The Trojan Horse Gospel
Genesis • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 48:09
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· 26 viewsThe Absolute Truth of Death The Negotiations of Faith Future Implications
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Genesis 23
Genesis 23
Now Sarah lived 127 years; these were all the years of her life. Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron ) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites: “I am a foreign resident among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.” The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Listen to us, lord. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in our finest burial place. None of us will withhold from you his burial place for burying your dead.” Then Abraham rose and bowed down to the Hittites, the people of the land. He said to them, “If you are willing for me to bury my dead, listen to me and ask Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf to give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me in your presence, for the full price, as a burial place.” Ephron was sitting among the Hittites. So in the presence of all the Hittites who came to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham: “No, my lord. 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.” Abraham bowed down to the people of the land and said to Ephron in the presence of the people of the land, “Please listen to me. Let me pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, and let me bury my dead there.” Ephron answered Abraham and said to him, “My lord, listen to me. Land worth 400 shekels of silver —what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” Abraham agreed with Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had agreed to in the presence of the Hittites: 400 shekels of silver at the current commercial rate. So Ephron’s field at Machpelah near Mamre—the field with its cave and all the trees anywhere within the boundaries of the field—became Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who came to the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. The field with its cave passed from the Hittites to Abraham as a burial place.
The Absolute Truth of Death
The Absolute Truth of Death
Appointed Time -
Appointed Time -
Theology - God created/made and appointed each order of His creation. Bounded by life and then by death. Sarah was appointed to live 127 years. She will be judged by “how” she lived her life, “how” she “helped” or “hindered” Abraham. She dies alone, without the companionship of her husband, or her son. The Bible gives no explanation for or cause of her death, but implies the cause of loneliness through her decision to have Hagar and Ishmael removed. The Bible does not mention her since she had them removed, approximately 37 years.
Theology - God created/made and appointed each order of His creation. Bounded by life and then by death. Sarah was appointed to live 127 years. She will be judged by “how” she lived her life, “how” she “helped” or “hindered” Abraham. She dies alone, without the companionship of her husband, or her son. The Bible gives no explanation for or cause of her death, but implies the cause of loneliness through her decision to have Hagar and Ishmael removed. The Bible does not mention her since she had them removed, approximately 37 years.
Apologetics - Apologia answers the questions of why. Why would God record the death of Sarah, why is this important for the faithfulness of God, and why is it relevant for today? The death of Sarah is the beginning of life for the promised land. Abraham has to purchase the land, owe the land, and the claim the land for the burial of Sarah. In the “cycle of life” from an anthropological standpoint, the inversion is that death begets life, from the Biblical concept it is life that begets death. Sarah’s death brings life to God’s plan of the land.
Apologetics - Apologia answers the questions of why. Why would God record the death of Sarah, why is this important for the faithfulness of God, and why is it relevant for today? The death of Sarah is the beginning of life for the promised land. Abraham has to purchase the land, owe the land, and the claim the land for the burial of Sarah. In the “cycle of life” from an anthropological standpoint, the inversion is that death begets life, from the Biblical concept it is life that begets death. Sarah’s death brings life to God’s plan of the land.
God of -
God of -
The God of the Bible has claimed and claims to be the God over life and death. Throughout the Old Testament narratives God reveals this concept against Molek, Murdoch, Baal, Pharoah, and Dagon, just to name a few. In the New Testament this same concept is used against Caesar, Beelzebub, and other “men” that proclaimed to fill the role of Messiah/Christ. The resurrection of Jesus (The Son of God and the Son of Man) who is the true Christ, His death and resurrection are what bring life to God’s plan of everlasting life.
The God of the Bible has claimed and claims to be the God over life and death. Throughout the Old Testament narratives God reveals this concept against Molek, Murdoch, Baal, Pharoah, and Dagon, just to name a few. In the New Testament this same concept is used against Caesar, Beelzebub, and other “men” that proclaimed to fill the role of Messiah/Christ. The resurrection of Jesus (The Son of God and the Son of Man) who is the true Christ, His death and resurrection are what bring life to God’s plan of everlasting life.
The Negotiations of Faith
The Negotiations of Faith
To negotiate means to confer, to arrange, to transfer an agreement with an endorsement or witness of such agreement.
To negotiate means to confer, to arrange, to transfer an agreement with an endorsement or witness of such agreement.
Abraham is going to negotiate the terms of ownership of land to bury Sarah. Negotiations are based on the following criteria of the individuals involved:
Abraham is going to negotiate the terms of ownership of land to bury Sarah. Negotiations are based on the following criteria of the individuals involved:
Based on local customs and courtesies
Based on local customs and courtesies
Based on reputation and outside testimony
Based on reputation and outside testimony
Based on transparency
Based on transparency
Based on honesty and open expectations
Based on honesty and open expectations
Based on the proper view of oneself and self examination
Based on the proper view of oneself and self examination
Based on legalities
Based on legalities
Based on common ground
Based on common ground
Based on the position of gratitude/debt not strength
Based on the position of gratitude/debt not strength
Future Implications
Future Implications
Faith is always looking toward the final conclusion and future implications. Abraham negotiates for the future as well as for the present situation of burial. All negotiations are based on future outcomes and outlooks. This narrative reveals the execution of God’s plan through His chosen people, and the way by which salvation will eventually come through this chosen race, partially fulfilled and the blessed hope of His return.
Faith is always looking toward the final conclusion and future implications. Abraham negotiates for the future as well as for the present situation of burial. All negotiations are based on future outcomes and outlooks. This narrative reveals the execution of God’s plan through His chosen people, and the way by which salvation will eventually come through this chosen race, partially fulfilled and the blessed hope of His return.