TEST OF FAITH FOR THE LAND

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GENESIS 23

Lesson #37

A TEST OF FAITH FOR THE LAND

• Memory verse: 2Cor 1:20
• We have studied about the birth of Ishmael and the birth of Isaac. We have seen the ups and downs of faith in the lives of Abraham and Sarah. We have examined many parallels and prefigures regarding these two sons. And while Isaac represents the Iews and Ishmael the Arabs, there are some parallel likenesses between these two sons.

Isaac Gen 22	Ishmael Gen 21
He came close to death as a sacrifice	He came close to death in the desert
God intervened at the last minute through an angel to save him	God intervened at the last minute through an angel to save him
God promises numerous descendants	God promises numerous descendants

• Read Gen 23:1-20 Death of Sarah
  • Sarah died in Hebron (Kiriath Arba) at the age of 127, about thirty seven or thirty eight years after Isaac was born, and very close in time to chapter 22 when Abraham took him to be a sacrifice to God.
  • The Hittites (sons of Heth descended from Cain)
    • In Hebron, Abraham approached the Hittites to get land for a burial place for Sarah.
    • The sons of Heth were migrants from the Hittite empire in Syria (north east of the Promised Land).
  • Abraham’s eternal perspective of faith (4)
    • “I am a stranger and a sojourner”
      • Abraham had faith to believe that God gave him and his descendants all the land from the river in Egypt to the Euphrates River. At this time Abraham did not own any land anywhere.
      • This chapter is, therefore, a second test of Abraham’s faith. Chapter 22 tested his faith for a son and descendants. This chapter tests his faith for land.
      • Abraham believed that the greater fulfillment to God’s promise of land was in heaven.
        • Read Heb 11:9-10
        • Therefore, Abraham had an eternal perspective. He considered this earth as not his home but that he was only passing through.
      • God still has not completely fulfilled his promise to Abraham’s descendants, the Jews, for all the land. He will complete it in the millennium when the Jews will possess the land from the Euphrates River to the river in Egypt.
    • We, who are believers in Jesus Christ, are strangers in this world as well, only passing through. (Heb 13:14) We need the same eternal perspective as Abraham.
  • In light of the promise in the covenant of the possession of the land, of what significance is the purchase of the burial cave?
    • Abraham’s need for land
      • Abraham had to buy land for Sarah’s burial despite the fact that God, in reality, had given him the land.
      • Abraham could not just take the land. God’s blessings have to be paid for by someone in some way. Abraham was willing to pay the price.
    • All the blessings of God do not come easy. They must be paid for.
  • The disagreement between Abraham and the sons of Heth
    • Abraham wanted to buy only the cave as a place to bury Sarah. The Hittites wanted to sell him the whole field with the cave in it.
    • So what’s the big deal???
      • If Abraham owned a field or other property, he would be tied down to that piece of property.
      • He would have been responsible for certain feudal obligations that went along with planting and harvesting a field. He was concerned that he would be giving up his sojourner attitude and life style.
    • The Hittites drove a hard bargain and would not release the cave without the field. This was the only land Abraham ever owned in his life. The price he paid was an exorbitant one, four hundred shekels of silver
      • A shekel is a weight measure, not a coin, for coins were not minted until much later.
      • Silver is a symbol of redemption.
      • 4 signifies symbolically the number of the 4 corners or directions of the world.
  • A prefigure of a New Testament truth:

God Purchases our Eternal Home

Abraham		New testament truth
Abraham seeks to purchase a resting place for his beloved wife. Gen 23:4	God, the father, sought to purchase an eternal home for those who love him. Joh 14:2-3
The Hittites held possession of the land. Gen 23:4	The Hittites prefigure Satan. Satan holds title to the earth as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve. Gen 3 Luk 4:5-6
The Hittites recognized the authority of Abraham in the land. Gen 23:6	Satan knows the authority of God over this world. Mat 8:29
It was a choice piece of land. Gen 23:6	Our eternal home is a choice possession. Rev 21-22
Abraham paid an exorbitant price for Sarah’s resting place. Gen 23:15	God paid an exorbitant price for our eternal salvation–Jesus, his own Son. Joh 3:16
Abraham paid silver for the burial place. Silver symbolizes redemption.	Jesus paid the redemption price = his own blood. Eph 1:7
400 shekels was the cost 4 symbolizes the 4 corners of the world.	The price God paid was for the eternal salvation of all who believe from the 4 corners of the world. Joh 3:15-17

• • The cave at Machpelah
  • Sarah was the first to be buried here. Abraham is also buried here, as well as Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah. These are all the patriarchs in the genealogical line of Christ.
  • In the present day, there is a Muslim shrine over the tombs called the Mosque of Abraham. Because it is a holy place, visitors cannot go down to see the tomb area.
• Application:
  • As believers in Jesus Christ, God promises to meet our needs. (Phil 4:19) Jesus Christ paid the price for our blessings and our eternal life.
  • Like Abraham, we are to have faith in God’s promises despite rough circumstances which test our faith. If we have an eternal perspective, always looking to the kingdom to come for the ultimate fulfillment, we will better be able to endure temporary hardships. An eternal perspective means we have faith in the faithfulness of God whether he seeks to fulfill his promises on this earth or in an eternity to come.

Homework

Genesis 24

• Application of Gen 23
  • What is the focus of your faith: the promise or the one who gave the promise?
  • Even if you have not seen God fulfill some promise to you, consider whether or not you have an eternal perspective to your faith.
  • What changes do you need to make in your attitude to secure an eternal perspective?
• Preparation for Gen 24:
  • Read Gen 24:1-67 A bride for Isaac
  • Read Joh 3:27-29 Rev 21:2,9
    • This chapter is a prefigure of God seeking a bride for his son, Jesus Christ. The church is considered the bride of Christ.
      • Find as many parallels in the story of Abraham’s search for a bride as you can.

Abraham Searching for a Bride for Isaac	God Searching for a Bride for Christ

• Memory verse: Song of Solomon 2:10