Genesis 23:1 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old.
I intentionally chose an accompanying commentary that doesn’t completely jive with my religious beliefs. I think it is good to think about ideas that are not my own, ponder and pray about whether that is what I believe or not. It makes life and scripture less of an echo chamber, it makes me intentionally read and analyze, and I think God sincerely appreciates my effort to draw closer.
Genesis 23:2 She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.
Personally, I think if commentary tears down or belittles others–whether with an overt reference or a covert jab–that, to me, is not from God. God doesn’t belittle. He doesn’t tear down. He doesn’t mock. He knows what that feels like, and that’s not who He is.
Genesis 23:3 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said,
Precious Savior, Thank You for giving me the intellect and curiosity to seek understanding and truth as I read Your word. Thank You that I can read commentary that isn’t an echo chamber of my beliefs, that I can sus out good and true and useful information from the commentary, and that I can identify what does not square with my beliefs. Help me–with all my reading and studying and praying–to draw closer to You. Daily. Amen.
Genesis 23:4 “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
Have a blessed day.