Gen 23:1 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old.
This morning finds me reading both Genesis 23 and Hebrews 11. Genesis 23 talks about the death and burial of Sarah while Hebrews 11 talks about the many faithful, including Sarah, who went to their deaths not having seen the fulfillment of God’s promises but believing through faith that He would fulfill them. Sarah only had the one child, Isaac. When she died, he had no children. Yet she trusted God would fulfill His promises, and “And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars….” (Heb 11:12).
Gen 23:2a She died at Kiriath Arba…in the land of Canaan….
As I ponder what message He wants me to see today, I am left with hope in His promises, even when we can’t see how He might accomplish them, even if we don’t live to see them accomplished. He has promised a way in the wilderness. He has promised beauty from ashes. He has promised to be our shield and our very great reward. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. And He is faithful.
Gen 23:2b …and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the hope that can only come from You. Thank You for Your faithfulness and for the fact that we can trust You and Your promises, even when we are afraid, even when we don’t understand, even when we can’t fathom a way out of our wilderness. You are making a way, even if we can’t yet perceive it. Thank You for hope, grace, and mercy. Amen.
Gen 23:19 Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre…in the land of Canaan.
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.