Genesis 23:15 ESV “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”
In this verse, we see Abraham negotiating with Ephron the Hittite to buy a piece of land as a burial place for his wife Sarah. Abraham had previously offered to pay the full price for the cave of Machpelah, but Ephron insisted on giving it to him as a gift. However, Ephron also mentioned the value of the land, four hundred shekels of silver, implying that he expected Abraham to pay that amount.
In this verse, we see Abraham negotiating with Ephron the Hittite to buy a piece of land as a burial place for his wife Sarah. Abraham had previously offered to pay the full price for the cave of Machpelah, but Ephron insisted on giving it to him as a gift. However, Ephron also mentioned the value of the land, four hundred shekels of silver, implying that he expected Abraham to pay that amount.
What can we learn from this exchange? First, we can see that Abraham was determined to honor his wife and God by burying her in the land of Canaan, the land that God had promised to give to his descendants. Abraham did not want to accept a gift from the Hittites, who were not part of God’s covenant people. He wanted to have a legal and permanent claim to the land, even if it was only a small portion of it. He was willing to pay a high price for it, because he trusted God’s promise and looked forward to the future fulfillment of it.
Second, we can see that Ephron was not as generous as he appeared to be. He used a subtle and cunning way of bargaining, by stating the price of the land in a casual and indirect manner, as if it was nothing between friends. He also repeated the phrase “bury your dead”, to pressure Abraham to agree quickly and emotionally. Ephron was not interested in helping Abraham, but in making a profit from him.
How do we apply this to our lives? We can ask ourselves: What is the price of God’s promise for us? How much are we willing to pay to follow him and inherit his blessings? Are we ready to give up everything that hinders us from obeying him and trusting him? Are we aware of the schemes of the enemy, who tries to deceive us and distract us from God’s will? Are we discerning and wise in our dealings with the world, not compromising our faith or our integrity?
Let us pray: Lord, thank you for your promise of eternal life and a glorious inheritance in Christ. Help us to value it above all else, and to pay the price of discipleship. Protect us from the lies and temptations of the enemy, and give us wisdom and discernment in our interactions with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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