Participating in Messiah’s Story - Genesis 23-24

“Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, ‘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.’ And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, ‘Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.’ Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. And he spoke with them, saying, ‘If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.’” Genesis 23:1-9

Abraham has lost the company of his dear wife Sarah. He wants to provide an honorable and secure burial place for her memorial. He spotted a cave at the end of Ephron’s field. He sees it has ideal and is willing to pay full price for it even though his neighbors are willing to let him have it for free. Whether out of respect for Sarah or out of concern that they might change their minds towards him in the future, he still wants to pay full price for the property.

“Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, ‘No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field and the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!’ Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, ‘If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field. Take it from me and I will bury my dead there.’ And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, ‘My lord, listen to me. The land is worth 400 shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So, bury your dead.’ And Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, 400 shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.” Genesis 23:10-16

400 shekels of silver back then is worth about $4,000 today.

Should we purchase memorial sites for ourselves and our loved ones or just be cremated? Historically, cremation has been associated with pagan rituals. Orthodox Jews avoid it.

Orthodox Judaism forbids cremation as it goes against the Biblical pattern, and against respect for the deceased person’s life. Orthodox Jews view cremation as a desecration of God's creation. Jewish law requires burying the dead in the earth as a final act of respect, returning the body to dust. Jewish believers in the Messianic Age, believe the dead will be resurrected, which to them makes the preservation of the body important.

In Genesis 3:19, the Lord said, “...till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Deuteronomy 21:23 says, “His body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day...” In Genesis 50:26: Joseph is embalmed, placed in a coffin in Egypt, and later buried in the tomb. Acts 2:29 mentions David in a tomb as a proof of his historic existence. In John 5:28, Jesus said, “...an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice...” In Matthew 27:52-53, an earthquake at Jesus’s crucifixion opened tombs, and many bodies of “saints” were raised, coming out of their tombs after Jesus’s resurrection to enter Jerusalem and appear to many, demonstrating the power of Jesus’s death and resurrection over death itself.

In Ezekiel 37:1-14, the Lord speaks of opening the graves of His people. He speaks of putting flesh and sinews on their dry bones and breathing life back into them.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 speaks of the resurrection of the dead. “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. It is sown a natural body. It is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15:49-50, 52-53 say, “Just as we have borne the image of the earthly man (Adam), so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man (Jesus). ...Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” “...The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”

God, who gave the first man (Adam) a body made of earth, is well able to create a new body for our soul when He resurrects us from the dead. That being said, I still see value in what the Scripture says about tombs and memorials for those who have lived among us and contributed to our lives. My experience with memorial ceremonies is that they are beneficial for beginning the healing process for those who mourn the loss of their loved ones.

“So, the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave, which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So, the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.” Genesis 23:17-20

Sarah, the mother of Isaac, is in the family line of Messiah. Like Mary, the mother of Jesus, God gifted Sarah with a miraculous birth. Mary conceived a child without a man by a miracle of the Holy Spirit. God empowered Sarah to conceive, carry a baby to term and give birth at age 90. She is an important figure in Messiah’s story. Sarah is with the Lord now. In the next chapter, Abraham finds a wife for his son. Isaac must marry and have a son to keep Messiah’s family line going forward.

“Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. So, Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, ‘Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.’ And the servant said to him, ‘Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?’ But Abraham said to him, ‘Beware that you do not take my son back there. The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath. Only do not take my son back there.’ So, the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.” Genesis 24:1-9

Abraham is blessed in all things. He is 140 years old. One thing Abraham lacks is a grandson from his son Isaac. Messiah is to be born from Isaac’s family line, but Isaac is 40 years old according to Genesis 25:20 and still not married. Thus, Abraham commissioned his oldest servant to find and bring back a wife from among his relatives. Abraham confidently assured the man that God’s messenger (angel) would go before him, and he will obtain a wife for Isaac. The servant swore with an oath in a traditional way to do what Abraham required of him.

“Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. Then he said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.’” Genesis 24:10-14

Abraham provided his servant ample supplies for the trip. God supplied the man faith to believe in miracles. The man described to God a scenario. He asked God to let that scenario play out when he met the right woman, and it happened. God gave the man faith to pray like this.

“And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her and said, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.’ So, she said, ‘Drink, my lord.’ Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand and gave him a drink. And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, ‘I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.’ Then, she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.” Genesis 24:15-21

The Lord answered his prayer in the way he had prayed it to happen. This story triggers a memory for me. At one point, the Lord led me to pray, “Lord Jesus, let it be that the woman who loves You (Jesus) in me will be the woman for me.” Not long after that prayer, I fell very ill and passed out. My college roommate found me on the floor. He told a new friend, Sherry, about it. She sent me a sort of Gospel-witness-card via my roommate that said, “Jesus in me loves you.” Those words were similar to the words I had prayed, so I began to sit with her, talk with her, pray with her. By and by, I knew she was indeed the one.

Sherry and I are in the family line of Messiah, but in a much different way than Isaac and his future wife. Our Heavenly Father adopted us into His family by His grace in Christ Jesus. He revealed to us that Jesus Christ His Son is our Savior and Redeemer via the Gospel. His Holy Spirit converted our hearts to believe in Jesus Christ and profess Him. He birthed us anew and His Spirit came to live within us. Now, our lives are also a part of Messiah’s story.

“So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing 10 shekels of gold, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?’ So, she said to him, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.’ Moreover, she said to him, ‘We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.’ Then, the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.’ So, the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.” Genesis 24:22-28

The woman is Isaac’s cousin. Abraham’s servant gives to her a gold nose ring worth likely $100 and two bracelets worth $1,500 in today’s market. He begins worshipping the Lord and blessing the Lord. He knew that the Creator and Sustainer of the universe just intervened on his behalf. The woman watered and fed his camels, and then, ran to tell her mother the good news.

“Now, Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. So, it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, ‘Thus the man spoke to me,’ that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. And he said, ‘Come in, O blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.’” Genesis 24:29-31

After Laban sees Rebekah’s gold nose ring and gold bracelets. He runs to meet the man. He addresses Abraham’s servant as a man blessed of the Lord. He invites him into his house.

“Then, the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. Food was set before him to eat, but he said, ‘I will not eat until I have told about my errand.’ And he said, ‘Speak on.’ So, he said, ‘I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has. Now, my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; but you shall go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’ And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house. You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.”’ Genesis 24:32-41

Laban served the man and his servants. He unloaded his camels, provided water for him to wash his feet, and food to eat. The man refused to eat until he had explained his mission and announced his request to Rebekah’s family.

“And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go, behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, ‘Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,’ and she says to me, ‘Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,’ —let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’ But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So, I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also. Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So, I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. And I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.’” Genesis 24:42-49

Abraham’s servant testified to Rebekah’s family how he prayed to the Lord and how the Lord answered his prayer. Quite a miracle! What’s more, he was to find a wife for Isaac from among his relatives, and who did he meet? One of Isaac’s relatives.

“Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, ‘The thing comes from the Lord. We cannot speak to you either bad, or good. Here is Rebekah before you. Take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.’ And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.” Genesis 24:50-53

The servant’s testimonies, his treasures and the family connection convinced Rebekah’s father and brother that this was of God. They said, “Take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.” What did Abraham’s servant do? He worshipped the Lord with his face to the ground. Oh, that we all would trust in the Lord as this servant did!

Jeremiah 17:5, 7 says, “Thus says the Lord, cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord. Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.”

“And he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed all night. Then, they arose in the morning, and he said, ‘Send me away to my master.’ But her brother and her mother said, ‘Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least 10; after that she may go.’ And he said to them, ‘Do not hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away so that I may go to my master.’ So, they said, ‘We will call the young woman and ask her personally.’ Then they called Rebekah and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ And she said, ‘I will go.’ So, they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: ‘Our sister, may you become the mother of 1,000’s of 10,000’s; and may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them.’ Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So, the servant took Rebekah and departed.” Genesis 24:54-61

Rebekah’s mother and brother treated Abraham’s servant warmly. They invited him to stay longer, but his commission was to find a wife and bring her back. When they asked Rebekah about the matter, she had three words, “I will go.” They blessed and sent her on her mission.

This story reminds me of a testimony I heard from a missionary woman to Africa. She served the Lord in Africa as a single woman for many years. She had prayed many years for the right husband. Then, one day an ambassador came to her country and after meeting her, the Lord told him that he was to marry her. He invited her to a meal. After the meal, he proposed to her. He quickly added, “If you need time to pray about it, I understand.” She said, “I don’t need to pray any longer, my prayer has been answered.”

“Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then, Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; for she had said to the servant, ‘Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?’ The servant said, ‘It is my master.’ So, she took a veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So, Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” Genesis 24:62-67

Isaac was meditating. He looked up. Rebekah was on a camel. She lifted up her eyes. Isaac is pleased. Isaac loves her. Mission complete.

What about Abraham’s servant? In Genesis 15:2, Abraham said that the steward of his house was Eliezer. Eliezer is likely the servant who brought Rebekah to Isaac. Eliezer’s (אֱלִיעֶזֶר) name means “God is my helper.” Eliezer leaned on the Lord for help, and the Lord helped him. Thus, Eliezer is included in Messiah’s story

There are many ways to participate in Messiah’s story. One lad offered to Jesus two fish and five loaves of bread. Jesus multiplied his offering to feed five thousand men. One man let Jesus ride on his young donkey into Jerusalem. Another man helped Jesus carry His cross.

In Acts 10:38, Peter testified of Jesus saying, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Miracles happen when we participate in Messiah’s story.