23 Feb 2018, Gen 23 创23章, The Death of Sarah 撒拉的死亡

Posted on Jan 31, 2018 in Devotions, Genesis |

Scripture Reading        : Gen 23

Theme                            : The Death of Sarah

 

Abraham the mourner.

Sarah is the only woman named in the Bible whose age is given and burial described. It was the death of a princess, a woman of faith (Heb. 11:11–13; 1 Pet. 3:6). Abraham felt the pain of his loss and openly expressed his grief. Faith is not the enemy of tears, for we sorrow as those who have hope (1 Thess. 4:13–18). Jesus wept (John 11:35) even though He knew He would raise His friend from the dead.

Abraham the sojourner.

Ephron did not plan to give Abraham a valuable piece of land, but that is how typical Eastern bargaining always begins. Although the land already belonged to Abraham (15:7), but he did not want to take advantage of it and he could never explain that to his unbelieving neighbors. He was a pilgrim and did not claim any of it for himself. This is Abraham’s philosophy and principle of life as a pilgrim on earth.

Abraham the owner.

He paid a high price for what became one of the most famous tombs in Bible history, and eventually six people were buried there (49:31–32).  Abraham owned only one thing on earth: a grave. Genesis ends with a full tomb, but the gospel story ends with an empty tomb! And because Jesus Christ lives, we who trust in Him never need fear death.[1]

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. It is alright to weep. Abraham wept, David wept, and Jesus wept. God created us with feelings and emotions and it is natural to express it. Ecclesiastes states that there will be a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecc 3:4). However, we may not grieve as others do who have no hope (1Th 4:13). So there is a God-glorifying grieving. We need to discipline ourselves and keep grieving under control. (1Co 9:27) Let’s pray that we know how to handle our emotions for the glory of God.
  1. Abraham is a gracious man and he did not want to take advantage of the people of the land. Even though he knew God has given him the land, he knew the people might not understand so he gave them enough money in order not to stumble them. He is truly a pilgrim on earth. Let’s pray that we do not fight with others over the temporary things of this world but be a true pilgrim like Abraham.
  1. Genesis ends with a full tomb, but the gospel story ends with an empty tomb. There is a saying that a man only needs a 6 by 3 piece of land for us to rest (grave). But Jesus didn’t even need that. Let’s pray that our hope is in heaven rather on earth. We bring nothing here and we take nothing out of this world. Let’s pray that our hope is fixed on Jesus who gives us everything in heaven and on earth.

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ge 23:1.

 
 
 

经文：创23章

主题：撒拉的死亡

 

哀悼的亚伯拉罕

撒拉是在圣经中唯一提到年龄和她葬礼的女性。这是一个公主、一个有信心女人的死亡（希11:11-13；彼前3:6）。亚伯拉罕因失去了撒拉而感到痛苦，并公开表达了自己的悲伤。有信心并不代表我们不能流泪，但我们悲伤的眼泪是充满盼望的。（帖前4:13-18）耶稣哭了（约11:35），即使他知道他可以将自己的朋友从死里复活。

旅居的亚伯拉罕

以弗仑并没有打算将一块值钱的土地送给亚伯拉罕，但典型东方谈判总是这样开始的。虽然这土地已经属于亚伯拉罕（15:7），但他并不想占别人的便宜，而他也无法向这些不信的邻居解释清楚。他是给旅居者，他不占任何东西为己有。这是亚伯拉罕作为这世上一个旅居者的生活理念和原则。

地主的者亚伯拉罕

他以高价购买了圣经历史上最有名的墓葬，而最终也有6个人也葬在这里（49:31-32）。亚伯拉罕在世上只拥有一样东西：一个坟墓。创世记以一个完整的墓结束，但福音故事却从一个空墓开始！因为耶稣基督是活着，我们这些相信祂的人从来就不必害怕死亡。

 用经文祷告

  1. 我们是可以哭泣的。亚伯拉罕哭了、大卫哭了、连耶稣也哭了。神创造我们是富有感受和情绪的，将这些情感表达出来是件最自然不过的事。传道书说：哭 有 时 ， 笑 有 时 ； 哀 恸 有 时 ，跳舞有时（传3:4）。然而，我们不可以像那些没有盼望的人一样悲伤（帖前4:13）。因此，有一种悲哀是可以荣耀神的。我们需要操练自己，学会控制自己的情绪。 （林前9:27）让我们祈祷，我们知道如何处理我们的情绪以荣耀神。
  1. 亚伯拉罕是一个宽厚的人，他并不想白占地土。虽然，他知道神已将这地赐给了他，但他知道这些不信的人可能不会明白，所以他付给他们足够的钱，不绊倒他们。他真是这世上的旅居者。让我们祈祷，我们不因这个世上短暂的事情与别人争吵，但学会像亚伯拉罕一样成为一个真正的旅居者。
  1. 创世记以一个完整的墓结束，但福音书却以一个空墓结束！曾经有人说：一个人只需要一个6乘3大的土地就能让自己安息（坟墓）。但耶稣连这个也不需要。让我们祷告，我们的盼望在天上而不是世上。我们在这世上没有带任何东西来，也不带如何东西走。让我们祈祷，我们的盼望定在那赐给我们在天上和地上所有一切的耶稣。