GENESIS
CHAPTER
23
1. Sarah lived one hundred twenty seven years; this was the length of Sarah's life. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 1 to 2)
In light of chapter 16 of the book of Genesis Sarah's lifespan or time line falls under the following category. On browsing through this list compiled throughout the first sixteen chapters of the book of Genesis Sarah's time-span is one of the shortest, however up to chapter 23 of the book of Genesis, she is one of only females mentioned in this respect thus making her special
This is a list of the post-flood descendants of Noah we are given the following results;
Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years
Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old.
Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.
Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.
Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years.
Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.
Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years.
Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.
Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.
As expected of Abraham according to the rites or practices of the time, and also the consequence of true feelings associated with bereavement, Abraham showed his respect towards his wife. Again nothing is mentioned of Isaac who if present would also have reciprocated his feelings towards his mother.
On reflecting as Christians we can also perform certain actions such, as going to mass every Sunday, that can also become a ritual. We therefore are to ask our selves if our belief in God is truly genuine or if it is based on tradition or rituals that have been passed on to us by our ancestors. For my sake and yours, I pray that our worship and praise to God is the fruit of our relationship with Him and simply based on habit or ritual.
3. Abraham rose up from beside his dead, and said to the Hittites, 4 "I am a stranger and an alien residing among you; give me property among you for a burying place, so that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 3 to 4)
On reflecting we are given a parallel between Jesus and Abraham. As a baby Jesus needed a place where to be born. As a newcomer to the world He was also a stranger to the world and therefore owned no personal property. In contrast to Jesus, Abraham needed a place where to bury his wife and remove her from his sight meaning to put her in the dark. As the light of the world, Jesus needed a place where to be born, so that everybody could see him and experience his light, and through that light experience belief.
As Christians we can also be living that parallel. Without being aware of our actions, or maybe with willful intent, we could be doing our best to keep God in the darkness of our lives so that He will not bother, us and spoil our plans or personal agenda. On the other hand we could be still looking for a place where God can dwell in our lives and enrich us with his loving light of faith and love. Therefore we can either be a channel of light or one of darkness, the decision is ours to make.
5. The Hittites answered Abraham. 6. 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 any burial ground for burying your dead."
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 5 to 6)
It is held that some people are esteemed for what they are as in power and prestige instead of for whom they really are. In some situations for instance as in job seeking or in courting one's spouse this can have both a positive and negative effect, which is not really fair at all. At times it could lead to serious acts of injustice.
7. Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 He said to them, "If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me Ephron son of Zohar, 9 so that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of this field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as a possession for a burying place."
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 7 to 9)
On reflecting Abraham does not want to have obligations with pagan's. He wants to make it a legal transaction consisting of a price in order to obtain a property. This transaction is therefore is very significant. It is the first part of God's gradual plan for the conquest of the lands of Canaan or as known the Holy Lands. On the other hands as Christians we are never to bargain with the forces of evil, for what is evil may always be considered as being evil, while what is good will probably always be considered as such unless it becomes contaminated by sin and its negative ways.
10. Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city. 11 "No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it; in the presence of my people I give it to you; bury your dead."
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 10 to 11)
On reflecting Abraham got more than he bargained for. It is the same with God in our relationship with Him. God gives us not only what we want, but actually what we really need, which at times we are not fully aware of. However God sees the big picture and gives us in good time according to our wants even if at the time in question we may not consider them as being such needs or wants.
12. Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 He said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, "If you only will listen to me! I will give the price of the field; accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there." 14. Ephron answered Abraham, 15 My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver-what is that between you and me? bury your dead." 16 Abraham agreed with Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver according to the weights current among the merchants.
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 12 to 16)
Verses 12 to 16 of the twenty-third chapter of the book of Genesis, make us aware of the values of the world in contrast to spiritual values. For Ephron the land desired by Abraham was another piece of land, however for Abraham it was special, especially when considering that Abraham was a foreigner and a vagrant in the land. This can also be said for regular Christians who go to mass regularly. At times this may become routine or even boring or worthless because the value is not there. The role may be to occupy one's routine. However for those, who really value their time with Jesus and understand what is happening during mass, every Eucharistic celebration is a valued special moment.
17. So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whoel area, passed 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it passed from the Hittites into Abraham's possession as a burying place.
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 17 to 20)
On analyzing verses 17 to 20, we find a special emphasis on the important business transaction that took place between Abraham and Ephron the Hittite which even had witnesses to sustain the transaction. When we go to mass and communion we are each others witnesses. The transaction taking place during this special moment is between God and us. He is giving himself to us in both body and spirit in order to ensure our well being and His infinite love for us.
5. The Hittites answered Abraham. 6. 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 any burial ground for burying your dead."
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 5 to 6)
It is held that some people are esteemed for what they are as in power and prestige instead of for whom they really are. In some situations for instance as in job seeking or in courting one's spouse this can have both a positive and negative effect, which is not really fair at all. At times it could lead to serious acts of injustice.
7. Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 He said to them, "If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me Ephron son of Zohar, 9 so that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of this field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as a possession for a burying place."
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 7 to 9)
On reflecting Abraham does not want to have obligations with pagan's. He wants to make it a legal transaction consisting of a price in order to obtain a property. This transaction is therefore is very significant. It is the first part of God's gradual plan for the conquest of the lands of Canaan or as known the Holy Lands. On the other hands as Christians we are never to bargain with the forces of evil, for what is evil may always be considered as being evil, while what is good will probably always be considered as such unless it becomes contaminated by sin and its negative ways.
10. Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city. 11 "No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it; in the presence of my people I give it to you; bury your dead."
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 10 to 11)
On reflecting Abraham got more than he bargained for. It is the same with God in our relationship with Him. God gives us not only what we want, but actually what we really need, which at times we are not fully aware of. However God sees the big picture and gives us in good time according to our wants even if at the time in question we may not consider them as being such needs or wants.
12. Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 He said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, "If you only will listen to me! I will give the price of the field; accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there." 14. Ephron answered Abraham, 15 My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver-what is that between you and me? bury your dead." 16 Abraham agreed with Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver according to the weights current among the merchants.
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 12 to 16)
Verses 12 to 16 of the twenty-third chapter of the book of Genesis, make us aware of the values of the world in contrast to spiritual values. For Ephron the land desired by Abraham was another piece of land, however for Abraham it was special, especially when considering that Abraham was a foreigner and a vagrant in the land. This can also be said for regular Christians who go to mass regularly. At times this may become routine or even boring or worthless because the value is not there. The role may be to occupy one's routine. However for those, who really value their time with Jesus and understand what is happening during mass, every Eucharistic celebration is a valued special moment.
17. So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whoel area, passed 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it passed from the Hittites into Abraham's possession as a burying place.
(Genesis chapter 23 verses 17 to 20)
On analyzing verses 17 to 20, we find a special emphasis on the important business transaction that took place between Abraham and Ephron the Hittite which even had witnesses to sustain the transaction. When we go to mass and communion we are each others witnesses. The transaction taking place during this special moment is between God and us. He is giving himself to us in both body and spirit in order to ensure our well being and His infinite love for us.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Thank You God for being of value to me in my life, which would never be the same if, your were not present in it. In fact I value your presence so, much, that if you were not present in my life, the same life would in fact would not be worth living at all. Thank you for both the material benefits which you provide for my well-being and that of my family, but moreover I would like to thank You for prayer time and for giving me yourself, during every Eucharistic meeting meaning mass.
Dear God may we also crave for your presence and treasure every second of our life that we spend in your presence and never take you and your presence for granted.
Thank You God for being of value to me in my life, which would never be the same if, your were not present in it. In fact I value your presence so, much, that if you were not present in my life, the same life would in fact would not be worth living at all. Thank you for both the material benefits which you provide for my well-being and that of my family, but moreover I would like to thank You for prayer time and for giving me yourself, during every Eucharistic meeting meaning mass.
Dear God may we also crave for your presence and treasure every second of our life that we spend in your presence and never take you and your presence for granted.
Thank You God
No comments:
Post a Comment