Genesis 23:1-2–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

Posted by Seth on Feb 5, 2010 in Bible Study, Daily Devotions |

Genesis 23:1-2–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Genesis 23:1-2 wherein we remember the life of Sarah, a woman of faith.

Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

When my grandfather passed away a couple of years ago, I was struck by the weight that my grandmother must have felt in having him removed after their 60+ years together. All of the joys and trials, the family journeys and the seasons where life likely felt stagnant suddenly became only memories. A new phase of life came upon here apart from any choice of her own. Abraham must have felt much of this with the passing of Sarah. As a husband, he likely recalled the ways in which he led Sarah with faithfulness and sometimes in great error, blessings that he brought into her life and pains he could have spared her from. But overall, it is reasonable to assume that he was just downright sad…that he missed her greatly. They had been together for what might have been more than a lifetime for the average person today, and now he would have to walk on alone.

Funerals provide great opportunities to reflect on life. We’re faced with the reality that each of us have bodies that are heading in the direction of the coffin. It’s a morbid thought, yes, but pretending otherwise won’t do us any good. In light of the reality of death, there are some helpful things for us to consider. For instance, are we ready to pass on in the way that Sarah was? We know that Sarah was a person of faith, a woman who put her hope in God and not in herself. The Scriptures tell us that it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Will God see on you the righteousness of Christ when your body dies? He will only observe such if you have put your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior while on this earth. If you do acknowledge His loving authority, do others know that you live for Him and that it is your desire that they yield to Him as well for their salvation? And then what about those that you know who have lately lost someone dear to them? A hug and “how are you?” can go a long way.

Let us consider the life of Sarah and think carefully about our own. Her journey was one of pains and pleasures but one in which we are told she considered Him faithful who had promised (Hebrews 11:11). She laughed at the thought of being pregnant at 90 and yet trusted God just the same. She experienced jealousy regarding her servant Hagar and harbored frustration over the way she and Abraham’s family was (or perhaps wasn’t) developing. But in the end, when her life is summed up, she is counted as a woman of faith. May the same be said of us after our days on earth are through. Put all your hope today in the resurrected Jesus who gives eternal life beyond the grave.

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