Invest in God’s Promises Genesis 22:20–23:1-20 (NET)

What Do We Invest In? We make financial investments We make financial investments House House Retirement Retirement Education Education Health Health Looks Looks Entertainment Entertainment Our Children Our Children Do we invest in God’s promises? Do we invest in God’s promises? Only these have eternal dividends Only these have eternal dividends In our primary text today Abraham makes an investment in God’s Promise. In our primary text today Abraham makes an investment in God’s Promise. Matthew 6:19–20 (NET) 19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

Hearing News From Home Genesis 22:20–23:1-20 (NET) 20 After these things Abraham was told, “Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor – 21 Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Now Bethuel became the father of Rebekah.) These were the eight sons Milcah bore to Abraham’s brother Nahor. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore him children – Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah. Context: Abraham has offered his only son. Context: Abraham has offered his only son. Abraham’s possible emotions Abraham’s possible emotions Homesick Homesick Jealousy Jealousy Abraham has a choice – Continue to trust God or go home and walk away from the God’s promise. Abraham has a choice – Continue to trust God or go home and walk away from the God’s promise.

Lows in our Life Effect Decisions to Trust God’s Promise Genesis 23 (NET) 1 Sarah lived 127 years. 2 Then she died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age is given. Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age is given. This is the first time we see weeping in the Bible. This is the first time we see weeping in the Bible. Sorrow forces decisions: Sorrow forces decisions: Will he go home? Will he go home? Will he give up on God? Will he give up on God? What good are God’s promises w/out your loved one to share it with? What good are God’s promises w/out your loved one to share it with?

Abraham Invests in God’s Promise 3 Then Abraham got up from mourning his dead wife and said to the sons of Heth, 4 “I am a temporary settler among you. Grant me ownership of a burial site among you so that I may bury my dead.” Instead of forsaking God’s promise, Abraham invests in God’s land promise. Instead of forsaking God’s promise, Abraham invests in God’s land promise. God had promised the land, yet he was only a sojourner, foreigner. God had promised the land, yet he was only a sojourner, foreigner. Though a foreigner in life, he wanted residency for Sarah and himself in death. Though a foreigner in life, he wanted residency for Sarah and himself in death.

Reputation Should be no Exemption from Investment 5 The sons of Heth answered Abraham, 6 “Listen, sir, you are a mighty prince among us! You may bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb to prevent you from burying your dead.” Abraham was highly regarded. Abraham was highly regarded. He could get what he wanted based on that reputation. He could get what he wanted based on that reputation. Problem: It would be a borrowed tomb. The land is someone else's. Problem: It would be a borrowed tomb. The land is someone else's.

Know Your Investment 7 Abraham got up and bowed down to the local people, the sons of Heth. 8 Then he said to them, “If you agree that I may bury my dead, then hear me out. Ask Ephron the son of Zohar 9 if he will sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me publicly for the full price, so that I may own it as a burial site.” He doesn’t want a borrowed tomb for Sarah. He doesn’t want a borrowed tomb for Sarah. He has picked out the choicest tomb. He has planed it out. He has picked out the choicest tomb. He has planed it out. Application: Application: Don’t live off other’s investments for God. Invest- make it yours. Don’t live off other’s investments for God. Invest- make it yours. Don’t make blind investments. Know what promises your investing in. Don’t make blind investments. Know what promises your investing in.

Don’t let worldly obstacles keep you from investing in the promise. 10 (Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth.) Ephron the Hethite replied to Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth – before all who entered the gate of his city – 11 “No, my lord! Hear me out. I sell you both the field and the cave that is in it. In the presence of my people I sell it to you. Bury your dead.” Abraham only wanted the caves, not the field. Abraham only wanted the caves, not the field. Ephron insisted that Abraham buy the field if he wanted the cave. Ephron insisted that Abraham buy the field if he wanted the cave. Ephron is taking advantage of Abraham’s circumstances. Ephron is taking advantage of Abraham’s circumstances. Application: Even if the world takes advantage invest in God’s promise.

The tomb was worth the price of the field 12 Abraham bowed before the local people 13 and said to Ephron in their hearing, “Hear me, if you will. I pay to you the price of the field. Take it from me so that I may bury my dead there.” Abraham is willing to be taken advantage of to invest in the promise. Abraham is willing to be taken advantage of to invest in the promise.

Don’t let the price hinder the investment 14 Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 “Hear me, my lord. The land is worth 400 pieces of silver, but what is that between me and you? So bury your dead.” There is an old derogatory statement, “being jewed”, Abraham is “being gentiled”. There is an old derogatory statement, “being jewed”, Abraham is “being gentiled”. Application: Investments in God’s promises yield high dividends. They are worth the price of being laughed at. Jeremiah buys a field for only seventeen sheckles of silver (Jer 32:9) David paid only one-eighth that amount (50 shekels of silver) for the purchase of the temple site from Araunah (2 Sam 24:24)

There is a high worldly price for investment’s in God’s Promises 16 So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price and weighed out for him the price that Ephron had quoted in the hearing of the sons of Heth – 400 pieces of silver, according to the standard measurement at the time. He doesn’t bicker. He doesn’t bicker. He doesn’t grip. He doesn’t grip. He doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t hesitate. He has witnesses, not just to the transaction, but to Ephron’s scandal. He has witnesses, not just to the transaction, but to Ephron’s scandal. Application: Be ready for the world’s abuse when making investments in God’s promises.

Investment is Confirmation of Faith in God’s Promise 17 So Abraham secured Ephron’s field in Machpelah, next to Mamre, including the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and all around its border, 18 as his property in the presence of the sons of Heth before all who entered the gate of Ephron’s city. Abraham’s investment secured is a financial confirmation of his commitment to staying in Canaan and trusting in God’s promise, even after death. Application: “Put your money where your mouth is.” We invest in what we believe in.

A Place for Sarah set the stage for a place for Israel 19 After this Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah next to Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So Abraham secured the field and the cave that was in it as a burial site from the sons of Heth. Abraham invested in God’s promise and made Canaan the permanent residence for his wife, himself and his descendants. Abraham invested in God’s promise and made Canaan the permanent residence for his wife, himself and his descendants.

The Importance of Abraham’s Investment The Cave of Machpelah became the glue of Abraham’s descendant to Canaan. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Leah, and possibly Joseph are buried there. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Leah, and possibly Joseph are buried there. It is the second holiest site for Jews, next to the Temple mount. It has been venerated by Christians and Jews for centuries. It is the second holiest site for Jews, next to the Temple mount. It has been venerated by Christians and Jews for centuries. Genesis 25:8–10 (NET) 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man who had lived a full life. He joined his ancestors. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar, the Hethite. 10 This was the field Abraham had purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. Genesis 35:27–29 (NET) 27 So Jacob came back to his father Isaac in Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28 Isaac lived to be 180 years old. 29 Then Isaac breathed his last and joined his ancestors. He died an old man who had lived a full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him. Genesis 50:13 (NET) 13 His sons carried him (Jacob) to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the field Abraham purchased as a burial plot from Ephron the Hittite.

The Tomb of the Patriarchs It is presently covered by a Mosque and is under the security of Muslims.

Conclusion It’s alright to mourn the death of loved ones: Abraham wept for Sarah; Jesus wept for Lazarus. It’s alright to mourn the death of loved ones: Abraham wept for Sarah; Jesus wept for Lazarus. Relatives, friends and the old life may tempt us to forsake God’s plan for us. Relatives, friends and the old life may tempt us to forsake God’s plan for us. Look for opportunities to fulfill God’s promises during times of loss. Look for opportunities to fulfill God’s promises during times of loss. Don’t just receive God’s promises – Invest in God’s Promises!!!! Don’t just receive God’s promises – Invest in God’s Promises!!!! God rewards your investment in His Promises!!! God rewards your investment in His Promises!!!

Matthew 6:19–20 (NET) 19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Let your Greatest Investments Be in God’s Kingdom. The Dividends are Eternal!!!