E-pistle for May 8, 2009
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E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation May 8, 2009
Abraham Purchases a Burial Plot
(Genesis 23:1-20)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the death of Sarah
1. After separating from his nephew, Lot, Abraham settled near Hebron
(Mamre), Genesis 13:18, a major city in the hill country of Judah about
19 miles south of Jerusalem and 15 miles west of the Dead Sea.
2. Sarah, Abraham's wife, died in Hebron at the age of 127 years, vv. 1-2.
3. At this time, her son, Isaac, was 37 years old, Genesis 17:17.
4. Since Abraham was a nomad, he had no land of his own, but he needed
a permanent place to bury and memorialize his dead wife, vv. 3-4.
II. Meditation: on the burial cave purchased by Abraham
1. After some interesting negotiations (vv. 5-17), Abraham paid Ephron 400
shekels of silver for a field, a cave, and the surrounding trees . . . to be
used as a family cemetery plot.
2. Abraham and Sarah were buried there, Genesis 23:19; 25:9.
3. Isaac and Rebekah were buried there, Genesis 35:29; 49:31.
4. Jacob and Leah were buried there, Genesis 49:31; 50:13.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of this chapter
1. All human beings shall die, and it is entirely appropriate to honor their
lives with a memorial at their burial site.
2. Abraham insisted on paying Ephron's full asking-price for the land,
although it probably was not worth 400 shekels, and he could have
received it as a gift. The true value of a spiritual act is determined by
its cost . . . the price paid, II Samuel 24:24.
3. Abraham officially and legally purchased the land, receiving a permanent
"title-deed," vv. 16-18. (We, also, have a certain inheritance).
4. Thus, Abraham came into possession of the first part of the land of
Canaan, which God had promised to him and his family, vv. 19-20.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Accept God's ideal of a marriage: through good and bad (for richer or
poorer; in sickness and health) . . . it is "until death do us part."
2. Be absolutely fair and scrupulously honest in all my business dealings,
refusing to take unfair advantage of another person.
3. Know that, although this world is not my home . . . I am only a pilgrim
here . . . my (temporary) ownership/stewardship of private property
is fitting and proper in the eyes of God.
4. Realize that the joyful fulfillment of God's promises to me often is
accompanied by a season of testing, grief, and sorrow. (Abraham got
part of the Promised Land, but it was connected to the death of Sarah.)
Four Women At The Well
(Genesis 24:1-67)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on Abraham's plan to secure a wife for Isaac
1. Abraham assigned his servant Eliezer the task of traveling back
to his original homeland to find a bride for Isaac, vv. 1-4.
2. Abraham forbade Isaac from returning there personally, because
Abraham wanted Isaac to remain in the "Promised Land", vv. 5-9.
3. Eliezer prayed to God for guidance to know which woman the Lord
had chosen to marry Isaac, vv. 10-12.
4. Eliezer asked God for a definite sign . . . that the chosen woman
would offer water to him and to his animals, vv. 13-14.
II. Meditation: on Rebekah, who was to become Isaac's wife
1. Rebekah, a beautiful young woman, was Abraham's great-niece and
a second cousin of Isaac, Genesis 22:20-23.
2. Rebekah fulfilled exactly the signs established by Eliezer, confirming
to him that Rebekah was the chosen woman . . . and Eliezer worshipped
and thanked the Lord, vv. 15-27.
3. Rebekah's brother, Laban, and her father, Bethuel, negotiated the nuptial
arrangements and received the dowry sent by Abraham, vv. 28-53.
4. After a brief delay, Eliezer brought Rebekah to Isaac, who was in a field
meditating when she arrived, vv. 54-67.
(Note the types of the Trinity here: according to the Father's will, the
Holy Spirit brought the bride to the Son.)
III. Revelation: on how God supplies our needs (illustrated by women at the well)
1. Rebekah (Isaac's bride, Genesis 24) – Sometimes, under the Lord's guidance,
we must ask help from a person whom God sends with the "water."
2. Rachel (Jacob's bride, Genesis 29) – Sometimes we must take the initiative
and try innovative, non-traditional methods to secure the "water" we
need . . . to be shared with others.
3. Zipporah (Moses' bride, Exodus 2) – Sometimes we must battle enemies in
cooperation with others to attain our needed "water."
4. Samaritan Woman (who met Jesus at Jacob's well in Sychar, John 4) –
Not sometimes, but always, when we ask the Lord for the "living water,"
He miraculously gives us His "fountain of water springing up into
everlasting life," John 4:10,14.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Pray for God's specific guidance ("wisdom") in ascertaining His will in the
tasks assigned to me, James 1:5.
2. Understand that as a thirsty soul, I need a drink of God's water, Matthew 5:6.
3. Note that God's chosen mates for Isaac, Jacob, and Moses all were found at
an oasis. (The best place to find God's mate is at an oasis: church.)
4. Follow the Samaritan woman's example of bringing others to the source of
living water, Jesus the Messiah, John 4:28-30.
Nothing in the world will take the place of persistence. Talent will not;
nothing is more common than the unsuccessful person with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan
"press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the
human race.
- Calvin Coolidge quoted for Good Stuff
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