Sunday, August 25, 2019
Gen 23:1-20
- There are a lot of interesting parts to this story. How old is Isaac when Sara dies? 37 years
- Is there anything unusual about the mention of her age? She is the only woman whose age of death is recorded
- What does Abraham want and how is he treated?
- Initially, he just wants to buy the cave
- He is treated with great respect
- Why is Abraham's request unusual?
- Most people return to their homeland to bury their dead
- Abraham's commitment to bury Sarah here shows his faith that in 400 plus years (15:13), this will be his homeland
- Genesis 15:13 (ESV) — 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.
- Abraham's action says that this is now his native land -- that is a big step of faith
- Also is set in contrast to the end of chapter 22. While 22:20-24 is a glimpse of the future, it is also a reminder of where his "family" lived
- His "family" was not his old life, but his new life in the land of promise
- They offer to give him the cave -- what is happening?
- Some of it is negotiating
- Some of it may be honoring Abraham
- Some of it may be trying to get Abraham to owe them
- Some of it may be a reluctance on the part of the Hittites to give him a legal claim to the land (preferring to keep him as a sojourner)
- Abraham makes it very clear, he will buy the cave at full price
- Ephron's response is interesting. What is he saying?
- Ephron knows that Abraham will not take it for free
- Ephron gives him the field and the cave with that knowledge
- So, yes, they were treating him as honorable, but no, they were not taking a loss
- Ephron seems to make light of the value, as if it is nothing, but that is the price he is expecting. This is typical negotiating practice
- Any guess on what land sold for during that time?
- Land went for 4 shekels an acre, but we have no idea how much land is being offered (probably not 100 acres)
- David, 800 years later, only paid 50 shekels for the site that would be Solomon's temple (probably not the temple mount of today)
- 400 shekels is 100 pounds of silver
- This is really the first purchase in the land
- The planting of the tree symbolized a hope in an enduring existence in the land
- The purchase of the field and grave is something Moses will use to remind Israel to finish
- The cave will hold "only Sarah but also Abraham (25:9), Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah" (Ross,1985)
- Abraham is taken to the cleaners by Ephron, but so what?
- Abraham had an eternal home
- Ephron didn't hurt Abraham by taking advantage of his need, he hurt himself
- This passage is essentially the legal fine print
- The transaction was completed at the city gates
- Verse 20 makes it very clear that Abraham brought property in the promised land from the Hittites
- The promise of the land is one of the major themes in Genesis. But so is death. Death entered by sin and ruined the race. The deaths of patriarchs and saints are brutal reminders that people are sinners. Death brings out mourning. But death in this passage was also a basis for hope. In life the patriarchs were sojourners; in death they were heirs of the promise and “occupied” the land. (Ross, 1985)
- Abraham's actions reveal a commitment to God's promise. Abraham took concrete steps toward the promise
- Abraham saw life from an eternal perspective (at least after the birth of his son). He wasn't concerned about money or being cheated, he knew he had a greater promise
- We all will die someday. We must remember that this life is not our reward, nor is it our home. Enjoy life that God gives, but do claw for things God has not given
Genesis 23:1–9 (ESV) —
1 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of
Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you
for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord;
you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs.
None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your
dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people
of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I
should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son
of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he
owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me
in your presence as property for a burying place.”
Genesis 23:10–16 (ESV) —
10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite
answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the
gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I
give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give
it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down
before the people of the land. 13 And he said to
Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I
give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead
there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of
silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the
silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels
of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.
Barker
comments, "Hittite law specified that when a landowner sold only part of
his property to someone else the original owner had to continue to pay all
taxes on the land. However if he sold the entire tract the new owner was
responsible to pay the taxes (cf. 1 Chron. 21:24). Consequently Ephron held
out for the entire tract knowing that Abraham needed to make his purchase
quickly so he could bury Sarah."
Genesis 23:17–20 (ESV) —
17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre,
the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the
field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham
as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the
gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the
cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of
Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over
to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.
Hebrews 11:39–40 (ESV) — 39 And all these, though commended through their
faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God
had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be
made perfect.
Hebrews 11:8–16 (ESV) — 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go
out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not
knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in
the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was
looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder
is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive,
even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had
promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead,
were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the
innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but
having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they
were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who
speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out,
they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it
is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is
not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
APPLICATION:
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Gen 21:22-22:19
-
Genesis
21:22–34 (ESV) —
- Verses 22-24 gives us insight into Abraham's status, what has changed?
- He is now powerful enough, that other leaders make "parity" treaties with him
- How is Abraham changing and what cause the change?
- He is bold and not afraid of Abimelech
- The birth of Isaac changes Abraham, from this point on, he is very bold and quickly obedient.
- Beersheba means "oath-well"
- The planting of a tamarisk tree (long-lived and evergreen) represents a conviction of Abraham that he will live long in the land. In essence, he now owns part of the land
- Lastly, the passage references Abraham living in the land of the Philistines, why?
- The readers would understand the region
- This people of this region were different from the later Philistines -- probably not even the same people group
- At one point, the people in this region were peaceful and friends to the Jews
- At this point, how would you describe Abraham's life?
- Good, no tension
- Agreement with Abimelech provides peace
- Promise of a son and heir is fulfilled
- So, when life is good, what does God do?
- He provides a test
- I don't think there is any way of getting around the fact that this is human sacrifice. A common feature of many religions. But, God never intended to carry out the sacrifice, which is a VERY BIG difference
- Why?
- Not sure
- Make sure our focus and faith is on Him and not circumstances
- Heb 11:17-19 (ESV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
- James 2:20-24 (ESV) Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
- Note: James is not saying that faith is by works but that works demonstrates faith. If my life shows no "works" whatsoever, then one would have to wonder if the faith is true faith
- Also called "easy-believism" and "intellectual assent"
- How does Abraham respond to the test?
- Immediately … the next morning … without question
- Abraham has changed a lot. For much of his life he is a fearful man. He does chase after Lot which is something of a change. He does push God in bold prayer, but these are all later events in his life. He continues to make mistakes, laugh, fear for his life, fear for where he is living, etc. But the birth of Isaac becomes a sort of final turning point in his life. God has promised something and it will happen!
- APPLICATION:
- Are we growing in faith? Are we taking steps of faith? Are we regularly in the word of God? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God
- Is there something that God is asking us to do … that we are putting off … that we have not yet responded to?
- It is interesting, that he dumps the servants, any thoughts?
- It would have been a back door way of preventing the act
- It really makes the whole thing an issue between just God and Abraham
- There are some parallels with the Gospel story, what are they?
- Only son
- The son carries the wood on his back
- Isaac calls out "Abba;" Jesus calls out "Abba" before his death (Mark 14:36)
- First definition in the Hebrew portion of the Strong's Lexicon
- Fifth word in the Greek portion. First is alpha, the beginning, Christ
- Mark 14:36 (ESV) — 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
- Required sacrifice (the first because God said, the second because of man's need)
- The land of Moriah is a mountainous country around Jerusalem. It is very possible that this was also the location that Jesus died or the temple of the mount
- One is forced (Isaac); the second is voluntary (Jesus)
- One never intended to happen; the other was the intention from birth (John 12:27; Mark 10:45)
- Verses 6-8 must have been an incredibly difficult time for Abraham
- Until you have children, you will never totally understand the depth of the pain
- To make matters worse, his son engages him in a question …
- Do you see the prophetic nature of Abraham's answer to Isaac?
- God, Himself, will provide a lamb
- The scriptures don't really say much about Isaac's response. What do you think Isaac learned?
- The commitment of his Father to God first
- The absolute faith to believe God provides and SEES
- Ultimately, the greatest provision of all was probably provided on these mountains, possibly the very same one … Jesus
- Keil and Delitzsch write “The sacrifice was already accomplished in his [Abraham’s] heart, and he had fully satisfied the requirements of God.”
- Donald Campbell writes “The test, instead of breaking him, brings him to the summit of his lifelong walk with God."
- Abraham learns a new aspect of God in verse 14. Jehovah-Jireh -- The Lord will provide or The Lord sees
- Constable writes "For the first and last time in Genesis, the Lord swore an oath in His own name guaranteeing His promise (v. 16). God thus reinforced, reemphasized, and extended the promise that He had given formerly (12:1–3) because Abraham trusted and obeyed Him (vv. 17–18)."
- This is the ninth revelation of God to Abraham
- The covenant was not based on obedience, nor was the perpetuity of the covenant based on obedience—but rather the reception of covenant blessings was conditioned on obedience (Pentecost, Thy Kingdom …, pp.66-67)
- An unconditional covenant can still have conditional blessings
- I think the next passage is a glimpse of the answer
- Gen 22:20-34 Milcah & Nahor, back in Haran, have sons and daughters
- This story seems out of place, but in a sense, Abraham gets a glimpse now of the fulfillment of the promise (possibly as a result of his obedience)
- They are important later in the story as their line provides wives for Isaac and Jacob
- SUMMARY
- Every time Abraham made a sacrifice for God the Lord responded by giving Abraham more
- Abraham left his home; God gave him a new one
- Abraham offered the best of the land to Lot (although Lot went out of the land); God gave him more land
- Abraham gave up the King of Sodom's reward; God gave Abraham more wealth
- In each case God gave Abraham a deeper relationship with Himself as well as more material prosperity. Note the closeness of this fellowship in Abraham's response to God's revelations: "Here I am" (vv. 1, 11)
- God has not promised Christians great physical blessings, but whenever we make a sacrifice for Him He gives us a deeper relationship with Himself at least. For this reason we should not fear making personal sacrifices for God
- Note too that what God called Abraham to give back to Him was something that He had provided for Abraham supernaturally in faithfulness to His promise. Sometimes God tests our faith by asking us to give back to Him what He has supernaturally and faithfully provided, not just what He has provided through regular channels
- This test of Abraham's faith is the climax of his personal history. It is the last major incident in the record of his life
22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.
Gen 22:1-3 (ESV) After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Genesis 22:20–24 (ESV) — 20 Now after these things it was told to Abraham,
“Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor,
Abraham’s brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah,
bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
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