September 6, 2021 - - Genesis 23:19-20 -- Tender love and faith

After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

Genesis 23:19-20 ESV

Why is the name of the place, the field of Machpelah east of Mamre, included in this narrative of Sarah’s burial? Recently I have made a commitment to listen my way through the bible—I use biblegateway.com which has a free audio tab for the bible. It is interesting to hear what is emphasized when someone else reads the Bible aloud.

Mamre was the place where Abraham lived as a sojourner, a foreigner, among the Hittites. He did not own the land. Yet he was willing to pay an exorbitant price for the land as a burial site for his wife. I wonder why? As I listened to the bible being read aloud, I heard Mamre as the place where Abraham and Sarah lived (Genesis 14). It was the place where Abraham met the King of Salem and gave to him a tenth portion of his spoils of war (Genesis 14:20). It was where Abraham was blessed by the King of Salem, Melchizedek (Genesis 14:19-20).. It was the place were Isaac’s birth was foretold by the God, and Abraham fell to the ground laughing (Genesis 17:17). It was the place where the LORD appeared to Abraham and confirmed the promised birth of Isaac, and the place where Sarah laughed (Genesis 18:12). It was the place where Abraham learned of God’s decision to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham interceded urgently with the LORD, for it was the place where his nephew, Lot, lived (Genesis 18:22-33).

Mamre was the place of meeting with the LORD. When Sarah died, I believe Abraham’s decision to buy land there and bury Sarah in that place was a decision to bury her near the place where all these meetings took place with the LORD of Heaven and Earth. The reason for this? At her death, Sarah had her final, glorious meeting with the LORD of Heaven and Earth. This is the promise of the New Testament. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is effective so that all who believe (in the Old Testament in the promises of God, in the New Testament in Christ, the fulfilment of the promises of God) will be saved. Mamre was the beautiful choice for a burial site in faith before God and as a final act of tender devotion to his much loved wife.

God Most High, blessed be Your Name. In Your great love You have opened the way to Yourself through the body of Jesus Christ. Blessed are You, Spirit of God, Who takes the Word and reveals to us Jesus. Thank You Spirit of God, that You take the beautiful truths of the Word and are sealed up in us so that we know and are assured at our death we shall see Jesus. Amen.

https://youtu.be/KLTu1xv2-Us