Year 7, Day 22: Genesis 23

Theological Commentary: Click Here

In this chapter, we hear about the death of Sarah.  There were two very interesting places of focus that my brain went to today.  First of all, do you notice how matter-of-fact this news is reported to us?  Sarah died at an old age.  Abraham mourned.  Then Abraham went to bury her.  There isn’t much emotion given here.

Naturally, this is not meant to be a play-by-play.  I’m sure Abraham had his moments.  I’m not trying to say that Abraham was an emotionless and cruel man.  We know he wasn’t.  But what I am trying to say is that life goes on.  Abraham has a very good attitude when it comes to the order of life.  Death is a natural part of life.  We can mourn it.  We don’t have to like it.  But it shouldn’t ruin our life when it happens, either.  We need to learn how to deal with it properly, put it into the greater perspective considering our eternal relationship with the Father, and surge ahead in life.

The second thought that hit me was how Abraham dealt with the native people of the land.  The second half of this chapter is a typical business transaction in the ancient world.  Here’s the typical process:

1. The subordinate (the one who is seeking something) offers a reasonable price.

2. The dominant (the one who has what is being ought) offers to give it for free.  Note, though, that it is expected that this offer will be rejected.  This offer to give it for free is meant as a word of hospitality designed to put the dominant in a light of graciousness, even if it isn’t real.

3. The subordinate acknowledges the graciousness of the dominant but insists on paying.

4. The dominant accepts the price.

This is pretty much exactly what happens here in this chapter.  This process is designed to reinforce hierarchy, reinforce the importance of generosity and fairness at the same time.

What neat about this is that because Abraham is treated in this manner, it shows that the native people of the land have accepted Abraham as one of their own.  Abraham has come in as a complete stranger and found a way to have himself accepted by the native people.  Note the contrast to what happens over the next 400 years when Joshua comes back and the Hebrew people are not accepted.  What it goes to show us is that individuals who are willing to conform are often accepted by the native people.  However, when massive groups of immigrants want to come into a land without desiring to conform, rejection and violence typically ensues.  In today’s culture, I think that is an incredibly important lesson to learn.

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