A Study in Genesis
God provided the land of Israel for the Jewish people, and yet some today still say it is not their land. Did you know that in Abraham’s day, even though the land was given to him and his descendants by Isaac and Jacob, Abraham still purchased parts of the land? Genesis 23 records an event that the Jewish people still do occasionally. It is their land promised by God, and yet they have to purchase it.
Genesis 23:1-9 “Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; [these were] the years of the life of Sarah. 2 So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that [is,] Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 “I [am] a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 “Hear us, my lord: You [are] a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.” 7 Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. 8 And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, 9 “that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which [is] at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”
Israel has more of a connection to the land than any other ethnic group in all of the human race! Abraham, in his grief, wanted to bury her; it was not through conquest, nor through trickery, but rather through honest commerce and the integrity of both parties, resulting in a fair purchase. Genesis 23:19-20 “And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that [is,] Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave that [is] in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.” Israel purchased their own land back numerous times in history.
What does this mean for you and me? Two monumental truths! First that the events of the Bible are true and accurate, second that the land does belong to Israel and we should proclaim, as ambassadors of Christ, His promises and His word! So when people say otherwise, let us be quick students of the Word of God to know the spiritual significance of why Israel needs the land and the arguments for the land being rightfully theirs through their own actions dating all the way back to Abraham.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL
SUMMER PRAYER FEST
Today’s Summer Prayer Fest comes from Psalm 119:18, “8 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.“This prayer is for us to ask the Lord to open our eyes as we study His Word and learn how to meditate on it with application.