Chapter 23

1. Remaining alien Chapter 23 Chapter 23 • Hebrews 11:13-14 • All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. • I Peter 2:11-12 • Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

2. Remaining alien • I John 2:15-17 • Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

3. Remaining alien • Romans 12:1-2 • Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God —this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

4. Remaining alien We live in a world that seeks to draw us back into itself. This is a never ending call of the world, the old nature (the flesh) and Satan to be in the process of becoming like anything other than Christ. We must stand against the tide of “naturalization” and instead, maintain ourselves as aliens embedded within a fallen race representing our “homeland”.

5. Remaining alien The example of Abraham from Genesis 23, when Sarah died. Understand the lifetime process. Keep a “tent” perspective. Build an excellent reputation. Take nothing from the world.

6. Chapter 23 • 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at KiriathArba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. • Abraham and Sarah had been in the land for over 60 years • at this point without having been assimilated. They remained separate among. • This is a life-long project in our lives. • Abraham Inc. definitely had ups and downs & growing pains. • The chapters that we have are mere snapshots of long-term development. • Be patience and press on. (Phil 3:12-14) • End well Understand the lifetime process.

7. Chapter 23 • 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at KiriathArba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” • Even after 60 years, he still viewed himself as someone who really didn’t belong where he was living. • How deeply rooted are we here? Keep a “tent” perspective. • When you live in a tent, you don’t plan on staying long.

8. Chapter 23 • 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at KiriathArba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” • Even after 60 years, he still viewed himself as someone who really didn’t belong where he was living. • How deeply rooted are we here? Keep a “tent” perspective. • Philippians 3:20-21 • But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

9. Chapter 23 • 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at KiriathArba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” • Even after 60 years, he still viewed himself as someone who really didn’t belong where he was living. • How deeply rooted are we here? Keep a “tent” perspective. • II Corinthians 5:1-10 • 1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

10. Chapter 23 • 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at KiriathArba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” • Even after 60 years, he still viewed himself as someone who really didn’t belong where he was living. • How deeply rooted are we here? Keep a “tent” perspective. • Matthew 6:19-21 • “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

11. Chapter 23 • 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at KiriathArba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” • Even after 60 years, he still viewed himself as someone who really didn’t belong where he was living. • How deeply rooted are we here? Keep a “tent” perspective. • Mark 10:21 • Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

12. Chapter 23 • 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at KiriathArba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” • Even after 60 years, he still viewed himself as someone who really didn’t belong where he was living. • How deeply rooted are we here? Keep a “tent” perspective. • II Peter 3:10-13 • 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. • 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

13. Chapter 23 • 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at KiriathArba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. 3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” 5The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6"Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead." • “a prince of God (the gods)” • Perhaps he was no longer a manipulator for advantage • “We want to bless you.” Establish and maintain a good reputation

14. Chapter 23 • 7Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.” • The respectful bow ~ humility • You would think that a “mighty prince” would not need an intermediary, but Abraham uses the accepted system. • Does not expect a status/circumstance based discount. • Be known for humility and integrity. • (Our lives are a commentary about God.) Establish and maintain a good reputation

15. Chapter 23 • 7Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you." 10Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 11"No, my lord," he said. "Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.” • There is something going on with Ephron. Abraham sends a messenger, but Ephron announces an offered gift, seeking some manner of status and or boasting of his wealth. Establish and maintain a good reputation Owe the world no favors

16. Chapter 23 7Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you." 10Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 11"No, my lord," he said. "Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead." 12Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land 13and he said to Ephron in their hearing, "Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.” Abraham’s refusal of the gift is as public as Ephron’s boast. Owe the world no favors

17. Chapter 23 • 14Ephron answered Abraham, 15“Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” • Ephron is still boasting . . . Owe the world no favors

18. Chapter 23 • 14Ephron answered Abraham, 15“Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” 16Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. • Abraham would have not have done anything wrong in taking the land as a gift, but he chose to not give Ephron the chance to have himself be in Ephron’s debt. • Remember chapter 14, his refusal of the King of Sodom’s gift. • ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ • 21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” • 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” Owe the world no favors

19. Chapter 23 • 14Ephron answered Abraham, 15“Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” 16Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. • Abraham would have not have done anything wrong in taking the land as a gift, but he chose to not give Ephron the chance to have himself be in Ephron’s debt. • Remember chapter 14, his refusal of the King of Sodom’s gift. • Recall that he did receive gifts from Pharaoh and Abimelech • which was more of a disgraceful thing. (life-long process) Owe the world no favors

20. Chapter 23 • 14Ephron answered Abraham, 15“Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” 16Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. 17So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre--both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field--was deeded 18to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. • The only property that he owned was a grave site . . . Owe the world no favors

21. Chapter 23 • 14Ephron answered Abraham, 15“Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” 16Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. 17So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre--both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field--was deeded 18to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. 19Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site. • The only property that he owned was a grave site . . . Owe the world no favors

22. Understand the lifetime process. • You have come a long way • You have a long way to go • Patiently press on • Keep a “tent” perspective. • Understand that there is more • Send “investments” home • Honor the homeland • Build an excellent reputation. • We are walking commentaries • Apart from this, it is good to be seen • as being trustworthy. • Owe the world no favors. • seek no earthly status • take nothing from the darkness • be “owned” by God alone Remaining alien

23. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: • Who, being in very nature God, • did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, • but made himself nothing, • taking the very nature of a servant, • being made in human likeness. • And being found in appearance as a man, • he humbled himself • and became obedient to death — • even death on a cross! • Therefore God exalted him to the highest place • and gave him the name that is above every name, • that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, • in heaven and on earth and under the earth, • and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, • to the glory of God the Father.