Genesis 23

Written on 05/09/2024

Verses 1-7

  • Abraham took time to mourn for Sarah, after her death, but he made sure to bury her in a place where he would not see or think of her burial. Why? He knew he needed to move on from grief and not stay in it.

    • It is important to take some time to grieve for lost loved ones. There is grace for these times. But there also comes a time to move on.

      • When it is time to move on with life, after a death, if memory of a deceased loved one causes you to sin, this is bad

      • It is important, after a grieving time, to keep your joy, to stay focused, hardworking, and undistracted. A loss of these good things would be sin.

  • Practically, based on Abraham's example, it is often a good idea to not see a burial place or to do anything that would cause a return of grief, after the time for grieving has passed.

 

Verses 8-20

  • Verses 13-16. It is important to show that you are ready to pay for anything that you desire. Even if someone insists on giving you something for free, it is important to express your desire to pay. 

    • Work hard enough so that you are always ready to pay for your own necessities. This is good for your reputation with others (2 Thessalonians 3:8).