02/08/2017 - RECOGNIZE YOUR POSITION

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I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. Genesis 23.4

Although Abraham had become powerful, he acted prudently, respecting the people of the land where he peregrinated. This should be the attitude of every servant God. However, in several occasions, those who are used in the divine work are proud and consider their neighbors inferior to them. Now, he who leads must be the servant of others. Many times, for the person´s own good, the Lord does not use them as they desire. 

When Sarah died, the patriarch went to the proprietaries of that region to buy a burial place. We must have the direction of the Most High for all things, even for burial. Someone might object and say: “the dead must be buried wherever he is”. Certainly, the body without life is useless, but God must be praised through all things. Imagine if Elisha had been buried on the wrong place, a man would not have been resurrected (2 Kings 13.21). 

By the biblical register, Abraham was distant from Sarah when she died. Probably, he was taking care of the businesses of the family. Not everyone is able to be near the spouse in the day of his or her death, which would be ideal. As for death, it is impossible to avoid it, because as David said, it is the way of all the earth (1 Kings 2.2). The right thing is to live always prepared, for we don’t know the day or time, and when it comes, there is nothing that can stop it or postpone it. Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints (Psalm 116.15).

Abraham spoke to the sons of Heth about a place to bury Sarah. As an answer, he heard that he was a prince of God, so they would sell the burial place that he chose. It is important to have a good testimony with those who are outside and those in the house of God. It is gratifying when the lost recognize us as princes of the Lord, so that whenever they need, they can come to us and be helped. The saved should always be in communion with the Most High.

When he heard that he was free to choose the burial place that he wished, Abraham inclined before all of them and asked if Ephron would allow him to bury Sarah in Machpelah, for he would pay the due price. Do not accept receiving freely something that you need, because someone else’ goods might have cost him blood and sweat, and it is right for them to be rewarded. Besides, he did not want to receive free work from his friends and brothers. After all, they should receive for what they worked. 

Ephron gave the price, but said that among them there was no need for payment. Even if people insist you to have something for free, strive to pay them, for it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20.35). If your brother has a restaurant, do everything so that he accepts payment for his food. Certainly, you must be a blessing and not a burden. When we fulfill the Word, the Lord rewards us with what is written in it. 

Abraham weighed the silver and gave it in payment. Thus, he acquired that property near Hebron, which a few years ago had been sadly violated in one of the Palestinian revolts against Israel. The lessons that we learn today in Scriptures are immensely valuable today and for all eternity. We must live on every Word that comes from God’s mouth. Halleluiah and Amen?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares