Following In The Footprints Of Faith Sermon #16
Genesis 23:1-20
STANDING UP FROM BEFORE THE DEAD
Intro: We have been privileged to walk with Abraham through the peaks and
valleys of a life well lived. We have seen him leave his homeland to walk
with God by faith. We have witnessed his successes and his failures. We
have seen him as he experienced the joy of childbirth and watched as he
willingly gave that child up to the will of the Lord. Abraham's life has been
filled with the best and the worst that life can dish out.
Genesis 22 took this man to the pinnacle of faith and obedience. This
chapter takes into the depths of the valley of the shadow of death. Here, as
we watch him say goodbye to his wife Sarah, we see a man who has
learned to walk by faith as he weathers the storms of life. This evening, I
would like for us to watch Abraham in these verses as he teaches us how
to live the life of faith even when tragedy enters our view. I want to preach
for a while on the thought Standing Up Before The Dead.
I. V. 1-3a IT WAS A TIME OF FAREWELLS
A. The Sadness Of Separation - We are told that Abraham's wife of
some 70 years has died. This kind of separation is part of
everyone's life, Heb. 9:27, but when it comes, we are never quite
prepared for the hurt it brings. Thank god, the cruel messenger of
death will be done away with forever one day, Rev. 21:4; 1 Cor.
15:26.
B. The Sting Of Sorrow - When death entered the home of Abraham,
it broke his heart. The Bible says that he came to "mourn" and to
"weep". These words mean "to wail" and to "shed tears",
respectively. By the way, this is a natural reaction to death! There
are times when we hear people tell us not to weep over our dead,
but when they are stripped from our presence, it is impossible not to
weep for and miss them. F. B. Meyer said this, "Tears relieve the
burning brain, as a shower the electric clouds. Tears discharge
the insupportable agony of the hearer, as an overflow lessens
the pressure of the flood against the dam. Tears are the
material out of which heaven weaves its brightest rainbows.
Tears are transmuted into the jewels of better life, as the
wounds in the oyster turn to pearls." When death has intruded
into the land of the living, do not fear their cleansing needful ministry
in your life.
C. The Strength Of Steadfastness - The Bible tells us that "Abraham
stood up from before his dead". This means that when the
mourning period was over, Abraham moved on with his life. You
see, grief is a normal part of living, but there is a time when grief
must reach an end. Sorrow over death is natural, but sorrow that
does not end is unnatural. (Ill. A woman told me yesterday that she
has grieved for her parents for over 15 years. Folks that is not godly
sorrow!) We are told in the Bible, "But I would not have you to
be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.", 1 Thes. 4:13. May we learn to rejoice over our loved ones who, like
Sarah, have entered the realms of light, 2 Cor. 5:8! One day, we
will join them there!
II. V. 3b-16 IT WAS A TIME OF FAITHFULNESS
(Ill. Abraham has been given all the land by the promise of God.
However, He does not own one square inch of the land at this point. He
goes to speak to the men of the city to acquire a place to bury the dead.)
A. V. 4a Abraham Declares His Identity - He tells the men of the city
that he is still a pilgrim among them. He has lived here some 62
years at this point, but he has never settled down. He says that he
is a "newcomer" and is just one "passing through". Even after all
this time, he has never set down his roots in this world. (Ill. What a
lesson to the children of God! As long as our roots do not go too
deeply in this world, we will not become too entangled in its affairs.
May we never forget our identity! We are pilgrims and strangers, 1
Pet. 2:11, in this world. Let us so live and not settle down, but keep
traveling, looking for that city that will be our eternal home!)
B. V. 4b-16 Abraham Demonstrates His Integrity - In order to secure
a place to bury his wife, Abraham strikes a deal with one of the sons
of Heth, a man by the name of Ephron. Abraham mentions a certain
piece of property and Ephron offers to give it to him, but Abraham
refuses, because he does not want to be indebted to any man, v. 13.
(Ill. This is a good lesson for every child of God! We need to beware
that we owe no man anything but love, Rom. 13:8.) When Ephron
sees that he has the advantage over Abraham, he charges him far
more than fair price, but instead of standing up for himself, Abraham
humbly accepts the offer. (Note: Having to pay for land that God
has promised to give him might have caused many men to stumble,
but Abraham was able to see beyond the present into a future where
it was all his anyway.) Even in trials, Abraham was a man of
integrity! How you conduct yourself when the pressure is on says
more about you than how you act when things are good! One of the
best example in the Bible of integrity under pressure is Job, Job
1:20-22! Note: "In all this..."
III. V. 17-20 IT WAS A TIME OF FAITH
(Ill. The fact that Abraham buried his wife in the cave in Hebron, shows
the depths of his faith in the Lord God. Of course, Abraham's faith is
well known and documented, even in the New Testament, Heb. 11:13-16. In Abraham's life, we can see faith exhibited in three areas.)
A. We See His Faith In The Promises Of God - He was able to buy
the cave with confidence seeing that he already owned the land in
trust. It had been given to him by the precious promise of God, Gen. 13:15-17. He knew that one day, he and his descendants
would be buried in this very cave. But, he was able, by faith, to see
far beyond this. He was able to see a day when he would stand with
Sarah, in the presence of the Lord in Heaven, Heb. 11:9-10! (Note:
This same faith dwelled in the heart of Job, Job 19:25-27. It should
dwell in our hearts as well, John 14:1-3.) (Note: When we are able
to look beyond the present to the things we have been given in
promise, by faith, it secures the heart, frees the mind and strengths
the hands to work, Heb. 11:1! When we know we are going home
some day, it makes the trials of this journey bearable!)
B. We See His Faith In The Plan Of God - Abraham knew that even
as he buried Sarah here, there would come a day when his
descendants would inherit this land and would dwell there. Because
of this great knowledge, Abraham was able to endure his grief, his
pain and his losses. He knew that God's plan is always best, Rom.
8:28. (Note: If we could ever grasp that truth it would change our
lives! It would spell the end of our second guessing, our worrying
and our "whys?" and "What if's".) (Note: God has a perfect plan
and it is not meant to hurt you, but it is meant to produce His image
in your life, Rom. 8:29. It is meant to glorify His name and to further
His kingdom in this world. The best thing we can ever do is to
submit humbly and wholly to what the Lord is doing in and around
us!)
C. We See His Faith In The Power Of God - Even as he stared death
in the face, Abraham was able to walk in victory because he knew
that he was serving a God Who controlled all the affairs of life and
of death! He knew that even though his pain was great and his loss
was terrible, in the end, he would come out a winner because God
resides on the throne! (Note: Would to God we could remember
that tonight! We are not going to be in this world with all its pain
and heartache forever! The day is coming when we will leave this
world for a new home in glory. When that day comes, we will enjoy
the victory! The bottom line is this: I have read the conclusion of the
book! We have already won all there is to win, we must just wait
until the victory we already hold by faith is beheld by the eyes!)
Conc: There are times when we all look at an impossible situation and
wonder how much more we can take. Let me tell you now that God's grace
is sufficient for you in everything you will face in this life, 2 Cor. 12:9. He will
give you grace to stand up from your dead and to go on for His glory, until
the battle is over. I do not know what you might be facing this evening, but
I do know that faith where your victory lies, 1 John 5:4!
What will it take to get you to stand up from your dead? Whatever it is,
the Lord has it. Come get it!
