Home Is Where The Heart Is
The Book of Beginnings • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 44:08
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· 327 viewsIf home is where the heart is, then where is home for you? Who possesses your heart?
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INTRO
INTRO
How often do you think about heaven?
What will it be like?
Who will be there?
What might we spend all our time doing?
Oh the bliss of being perfectly unified with Jesus!!
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Easier said then seen
Poverty
War
Instability
TITLE & TEXT
TITLE & TEXT
Home Is Where The Heart Is
THEME
THEME
God secured a possession for Abraham.
The death of this woman highlights the life in God's promises.
Death of Abrahams wife & Isaacs mother Sarah.
Death of Abrahams wife & Isaacs mother Sarah.
no part of scripture is insignificant
all scripture points toward Christ
US
PRAY
God grant us your understanding today as we seek to come to grips with what this text means for us personally. We know your Word is truth and in it contains all we need for life in godliness therefore we ask that you would give us your Spirit so as to allow us the pleasure of digging out of your storehouse some treasure for ourselves this day. Show us how the death and burial of this woman Sarah points us even today to the fulfilled promises we have in Christ.
TEXT EXPOSITION
TEXT EXPOSITION
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.”
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.
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.
XXX
OBSERVATIONS
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
V1 Observations
Sarah = “Princess”
127 - Old
37 yrs after Isaac
62 yrs in Canaan
harkens back to Adam and lineage of Seth
matriarch of Israel
Abrahams companion
only women to have age recorded at death in Bible!
God did not take his laughter (Isaac) but did take the one with whom so many laughs were shared.
V2
Kirath-arba = city of 4 - Ch 14 the war
Hebron
Land of Canaan = promised land
died in the land not a possessor of it
Mourn & Weep
sackcloth & ashes
cutting of ones beard
sitting in dirt
fasting from food
weeping
Big Part - small section…
V3
Body of his wife - before / face
Spoke with occupying peoples
V4 Beginning of 3 interactions of Abe and Hits.
Outsider
no legal rights
no inheritance among them
no bargaining chips
Property = “achuzza” = possession - [promised land possession]
burial ground
land for dead not living
Bury Dead
away from face - could not look on her any more
V6
Prince of God
God = elohim - not yahweh in particular
highly esteemed by outsiders
Sodom, Abimelech and Here - all of these men in these other nations recognize that God is with this man.... Abraham’s humility
Choice Tomb
honor & privilege
not a possession
rental / re-usable
forgotten
V7
Humility & Respect
only place in Gen where he does this!!
“meek shall inherit the earth”...
How can we grow in this type of interactions with the people of the land around us?
V8
If You Really Want… = purposed in heart
bury dead
Entreat - beg / hit the mark
Ephron son of Zohar
has a place all picked out!
with age comes wisdom
what once may have been denied… for good purpose may be given
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.”
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.”
Gen 23:8-
V9
Cave of Machpelah
end of field = retains boundaries
unused space
Full Price
Abraham is willing to pay what is owed
When we fully grasp the riches we have in Christ any and all worldly wealth will no longer impress us nor will it be more then we can part with for His glory.
everything is legit!!
full price
legal ownership
witnesses
V10
Gate of the City
legal epicenter
Ephron called out
Ephron is a man of respect = notice he is there.
how can he deny?
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.”
V11
Respect & Generosity
lord
field and cave
more then asked for
self seeking generosity?
genuine good will?
Let us not seek to be generous merely for the recognition that comes with generosity but out of a true desire to bless because of our blessings.
that which is given can also be taken back especially in this context.
V12-13
Again Abraham Speaks
humbles himself
elevates Ephron
ask him to name his price!
Beloved, count the cost of following Christ! Do not offer to God that which you are unwilling to pay...
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.
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
V14-15
Gen 14-17
V14-15
Ephron was a shrewd business man
$400 shekels
squeeze them while you can
overpriced
time of need
witnesses at the gate
an offer he hoped he would refuse!
Ephron was a picture of generosity
$400 = 10 lbs
land / cave
about an acre $2,500
Some things are just more important then physical goods.
V16
Middle East - Haggling over prices
Gen 23.
pays what is asked
witnessed by others
legal setting
universal scale
Do not be deceived there are not multiple scales but only the righteous judgements of the LORD will stand.
V17-18
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.
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.
The Field
came for a cave!
came for a possession!
Beloved what was it that originally drew you to come to Christ? Have you not now recieved far more then you had even been hoping?
V19
The burial
long last / laid to rest
lived in a land not her own
through death enters into the land of promise
V 20
Seemingly secular chapter ends
only one mention of God - Hittites
80% about land negotiations
God promises / Abraham pays
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.
Not About Sarah
Not about death
14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
All About the Land!
How does this point to Christ? How is Christ the fulfillment of this narrative?
But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
“Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession.
How does this narrative apply to me today? What does it mean for me?
Fast Forward - birds eye view of Christs fulfillment...
Deu
9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife.
GEN 25
29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.”
29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.”
Gen 49.
24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
GEN 49.
24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
Joseph believes this promise of the promised land and holds to the possession of this land and so he puts his hope there.
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.
Heb
400 years pass...
49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession.
De
This promise was confirmed and given afresh to the people of God even in the face of their wanderings.
Under Joshua the land is taken and is now their possession…
45 Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
GEN 50.
For a time it was so, and in this time they desired to worship Him for His goodness and faithfulness and David their king knew the same thing as Abraham did as he says...
24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
For a time it was so, but they fell away, for just like us it was easier said then seen.
Just like Jeremiah we too must believe by faith...
14 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’
JER
3 For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
Promise of reconciliation even in the face of their unfaithfulness.
Promise of a land and a people.
Promise of a land and a people.
Promise of God dwelling with man as it was intended in the beginning in the garden!
Promise of the nations blessed through Abrahams offspring.
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Of whom Psalms said...
MA
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Not just Canaan, not just Israel…
Through Christs faithfulness we have been adopted as sons and daughters of the promise and we receive the blessings it holds the same way Abraham did...
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
Through this adoption we are heirs with Christ in all that the Father gave Him through His righteousness which He gives to us, who have faith.
That is why Jesus can say...
ROM 4
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
The blessing of Abraham then is not just for a small part of the world but as we see through Christ is the reconciliation and a recreation of the both the heavens and the earth!
How does this point to Christ? How is Christ the fulfillment of this narrative?
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
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.
How does this narrative apply to me today? What does it mean for me?
HEB 11.9-14
We also then must have the same type of faith that those who came before us had that if God promises us an inheritance He will deliver.
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
We have this promise in Christ of a future hope, future home, future life
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
JHN 14.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
REV
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
1 COR 15.
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 COR 15.52-57
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
How does this narrative apply to me today? What does it mean for me?
GOAL
GOAL
Christ secures a possession for you!
The resurrection of our LORD marks the beginning of the fulfilled promise for God’s people.
Theme
God secured a possession for Abraham.
The death of this woman highlights the life in God's promises.
The death of this woman highlights the life in God's promises.
Application
We do not have to fear for this world.
We do not have to fear for this world.
global warming
terrorism
nuclear war
medical plagues
comet from outer space
We have a sure hope for a future home
CLOSE
CLOSE
God our Father we praise you that this is not our home! In your good pleasure you counted the cost and purchased us by the precious blood of the Lamb. Through this we now have an inheritance, through this we have a guarantee, through this we have a down payment, through this we have the sure proof of the things that are to come. We praise you for the peace this knowledge brings and the hope this promise secures! Help us to live each day is if it were our last, seeking to part with everything for you if that be what you require. Secure in the knowledge of a future home, inheritance, and life everlasting. Give us your Spirit and your vision so that we might hold with an open hand all the things of this world knowing that they are coming to nothing and that they will one day pass away and that all things, us, this world, the very heavens themselves will be made new! That is our Hope & Peace!
Amen!!