GOD'S PROMISES

Genesis 23 tells of the death of Sarah.  Imagine Abraham's grief at the loss of this precious wife of so many years.  Isaac is not mentioned in this chapter - he would have been about twenty-six years of age.  

Abraham was an immigrant in a foreign land (Canaan).  He had no property to even bury his wife.  

Although Abraham was an immigrant, he had been in Canaan for a good while and had established a solid reputation and gained considerable wealth.  He had defended himself and his nephew, Lot, against foreign kings.  He had dug wells and would dig many more in the future.  He was respected.

He met with the local leaders and said, 

I am an alien and a stranger among you.  Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.  [v.4]

Their response:

Sir, listen to us.  You are a mighty prince among us.  Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs.  None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.  [v.6]

Abraham then rose and bowed down before the people of the land.  He named Ephron and inquired about a field and cave that belonged to him.  Ephron was present and granted Abraham the land as a gift.  However, Abraham insisted on paying for the field and cave at a fair price of four hundred shekels of silver.  An agreement was made and the money was publicly transferred.

So Ephron's field...near Mamre - both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the border of the field - was deeded to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city.  [vs.17-18]

And Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field...near Mamre.  [v.19]

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A simple reporting of details - and the chapter ends.

However, remember God's words to Abram in Genesis 12?

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;  I will make your name great and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;  and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.  [vs.2-3]

 God is keeping His Word!  

God had also said to Abraham:

The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you;  and I will be their God.   [17:8]

Do you see how important this chapter is now?  Abraham now owns a little piece of the land that God has promised him!  It's a start.  God is at work.  

When God makes a promise - He's good for it!  It may not come when you want it to - BUT IT WILL COME!