Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.” (Genesis 23:12, 13)
it’s a moving picture we’re given at the start of Genesis 23.
The passing of Sarah is something that left her widower in a state of weeping and mourning. That might suit the widow in some cultures, but for the widower to be that open in their emotional response says a lot about the kind of man Abraham was. None of that stiff-upper lip and the show-must-go-on kind of business. The sister and wife for life had moved on from this mortal coil and he responded from the heart.
The issue around the burial site is interesting, though.
What status Abraham has among the natives of the land that even though he’s a foreigner they have no problems offering him any place and anywhere for him to bury his dead. Abraham, though, is a wise and shrewd guy. It’s not the first time he’s declined a freebie. There’s something about paying what something is worth and knowing it’s yours. It’s also important that once it belongs to you, this is something that can be useful for generations to come.Just in case they might want to bury some other folks in the future.
There’s nothing wrong in accepting some gifts, but there is something valuable about paying the price and reaping the reward. It’s the principle that matters.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 