QT 9/29/2025 Genesis 23:1–11, We have an inheritance

Genesis 23:1–11 (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.”

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.”

 

NOTE: The first parcel of land that Israel received is a piece of land bought and paid for (see next few verses after 11). The remaining was given by God (in a covenant) and then possession was through conquering and removing the inhabitants. This idea of indigenous people is really a stupid argument. No one knows who the original people are of any land. It really is more of an argument toward the last people group. All of Germany is a conquered land from many different people groups. Today, our culture upholds "survival of the fittest" unless it is conflict with their opinion of a indigenous group.

 

When the Israelites return from slavery in Egypt (400 and 40 years later), this piece of land was a deposit down on the whole land promised. They carried Joseph's bones back with them to lay in this cave. I'm sure they were reminded many times in their history of this deposit to the promise of God. But, I am very sure, as the years passed by, they began to doubt God's promise.

 

We are in the same situation today. There is a promised coming return of the Messiah and an inheritance promised to believers in Jesus. But as we stand almost 2000 years later, we wonder if God will every fulfill his promise. We also have a deposit guaranteeing our deposit, it is the Holy Spirit.

 

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) — 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

 

PONDER:

1. Are we flagging in our zeal?
2. Do we still cherish the hope we have in a future kingdom with Jesus?

 

PRAYER: Father, whatever happens in this next decade, I know and believe that you are returning in your time. Protect my faith. Don't let me fall back into the mire of timidity.