Walking with God through times of Grief
Text: Genesis 23:1-20 (NIV)
“DEATH IS A WOUNDING TO THE LIVING.” (Joe Bayly)
An entire chapter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has been recorded for us in the pages of Scripture concerning the death and burial of Abraham’s beloved wife Sarah. Through this chapter, we are given some practical insights concerning our walk with God through the death, mourning, burial and grieving of a loved one.
I. WALKING WITH GOD THROUGH THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE
Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, (see also I Peter 3:6)
Abraham went…to Sarah
II. WALKING WITH GOD THROUGH THE MOURNING OF A LOVED ONE
…Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.
“There is…a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
III. WALKING WITH GOD THROUGH THE BURIAL OF A LOVED ONE
Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead…Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.
IV. WALKING WITH GOD THROUGH THE GRIEVING OF A LOVED ONE
Abraham was now old and well advanced in years and the Lord blessed him in every way. He said to his chief servant in his household, “….go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac……Isaac…married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted
after his mother’s death.” (Genesis 24:1-2,4,67)