“So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession.” – Genesis 23:17,18a

Scripture reading: Genesis 23: 1-20

This chapter is, in many ways, a sad one. It speaks repeatedly of death. Sarah, Abraham’s beloved wife of many years, has died. And death is always sorrowful. We should never be superficial about it. Death is not how things are supposed to be. Abraham wept. They had shared so much together—decades of life, love, struggle, and grace. They had hurt each other, forgiven each other, and carried on. Now that time is over. Death is sad. Jesus wept at Lazarus’s grave, He raged at death. So, we are right to mourn.

But as Christians, we mourn in hope. We have an eternal inheritance, a glorious future. That’s why Abraham was so intentional about securing a burial plot for Sarah. God had promised that land, and Abraham trusted that promise would be fulfilled. His actions pointed beyond death to the certainty of God’s Word. We too have been promised a glorious inheritance in the new heavens and new earth, where righteousness dwells. No more death, no more pain, no more tears. All things will be made new.

Abraham refuses to accept the land as charity from the world. He won’t rest until he has secured it properly, “I am a sojourner, I am different from you.” His hope was not in this world, but in God’s promise. Thank God, Jesus gave Himself no rest until the deed for our eternal inheritance was secured—at the cost of His own blood. Rest by faith, knowing that our inheritance is sure in Him.

Suggestions for prayer

Thank God that though we die, we shall live. Pray comfort for those who mourn. Ask for courage to share the hope of our eternal inheritance in Christ with those who grieve.

Pastor John A. Bouwers is pastor of the Hope Reformed Church (URCNA) in Brampton, ON, where he has served since December 2017. He is married to Julie, and they praise God together for His abounding grace and covenant faithfulness. And it is their prayer that together with all of God’s people they and their descendants may be thankful “so-that” people, being taught the ways of the Lord, embracing the promises of the Lord, keeping covenant with the Lord, and then getting out of our comfort zones, “so-that” many more from all the nations may be glad to know God and worship Him. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.