Title:

Spiritual Legacy

Genesis 23

Opening

To all of the mothers with us today in person or online, Happy Mother’s Day. You have been chosen by God to fill an incredible role. You birth babies. You are the closest person to your child in its early days. You have the opportunity no one else has. Thank you for your faithfulness. 

I have neem blessed to be married to Julie, the amazing mother of our children and to get to enjoy watching our daughter, Sarah, and our daughter-in-law, Alessandra, be wonderful mothers to our 4 grandchildren.

This past year, I lost my godly mother. My siblings and I were so blessed to have her as our mom. We miss her.

There are times in your life that focus your attention on the future beyond your life. There are times when you realize life is short and there is more that needs to be accomplished than you can do in your lifetime.

Funerals are like that. While you’re remembering, and grieving, and celebrating the life of a loved one, there is often a stiff reminder that time is short. 

Funerals help us process our loss and also our lives. There are so many different types of people at a funeral. There are family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. They all know different parts of the life of the deceased but almost no one knows the whole person. That’s why my favorite parts of the memorial service are the family stories and the slide show. You learn so much about the person. Although sometimes you get more than you bargained for.

During one funeral I conducted years ago some nieces were sharing about their uncle and how he had helped them with renting an apartment. At one point in their comments, they said, “we always wondered if Uncle Sal was in the mafia. Now we know.” There was some laughter but there was also a gasp from some. I found out later that only about half the family knew about Sal’s years in organized crime. 

If a memorial service is done well, it should honor and celebrate the true essence of the person. It should celebrate what they stood for and what they tried to accomplish. And, it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. While everyone will know different facets of a person, all should have an idea of that is most important. 

Many people want to leave a legacy. They want to be remembered for something after their gone. Athletes aim for the Hall of Fame. Titans of industry want buildings and companies named after them. They want their lives to have changed the world. But do these types of legacies really change much of anything? Seems like there should be a better way to shape the future.

Today I want to talk to you about the legacy you leave to your descendants. The title of the sermon is,  Spiritual Legacy, from Genesis 23.

Exegesis

Genesis 23:1–2 (ESV) 

1Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 

2And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

Sarah, the faithful wife of Abraham died at 127 years old. She had been on an adventure with her husband for 62 years. She went with him when God called him to leave his country and his people and go to a place He would show him. She was a part of that calling because in this new place God promised to make a nation from a child she would bear. Hebrews 11 tells us:

Hebrews 11:11 (ESV) 

11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Sarah believed that God was able to do the impossible. This is the faith that justified her just as Abraham believed God and it was counted as righteousness to him.

But now, Sarah dies while there is so much of God’s promise to be realized. Abraham and Sarah were living in a time after the flood when lifespans were shrinking. But, I wonder what their expectation was for themselves? Were they expecting to live to see this great nation bless the world? In any case, Sarah’s death makes it clear that God’s assignment for Abraham and Sarah would be mostly completed by their descendants long after their deaths.

This is a sobering thought. It’s a thought that causes Abraham to think differently about his life and future. He needs to think through how he can influence and position his descendants to carry out God’s assignment. Sarah’s death presents Abraham with an opportunity to do just that.

Genesis 23:3–4 (ESV) 

3And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 

4“I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

Abraham decides to bury her locally rather than to return to their homeland in Haran to bury her. This is significant. Over 20 years ago when my dad passed unexpectedly, my family and I had to make a similar decision. My parents had purchased burial plots in Missouri but were living in Kentucky when Dad died. We discussed it at length with my mother. She wrestled with whether  to bury Dad 5 hours away in Missouri or near their current home in Kentucky. 

I encouraged her to bury him locally. My thinking was that she was establishing a memorial site for my dad. It would be very difficult for her or any of us to ever visit the grave in Missouri. But in Kentucky we could go by every time we came to visit her. I am so glad she buried him near her home. While we could remember him without going to the cemetery, I have had many meaningful moments remembering the great things God did through my dad as I stood by his grave.

Abraham is doing something similar but even more significant. He is wanting to establish a memorial for Sarah and for the rest of the family. By doing so in the land of Canaan, he is saying, “this family is committed long term to God’s promise and plan.” To live in the land God promised to one day give them was to live by faith in God. It was very similar to following Jesus today.

So, Abraham approaches the local leaders.

Genesis 23:5–6 (ESV) 

5The Hittites answered Abraham, 

6“Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.”

The Hittites ruled the region at that time. They owned all the land and while they respected Abraham, their first thought was to have him use one of their tombs. Intentionally or not, this would make Abraham and his family kind of melt into their people. He would not have a distinct memorial for his family. While Abraham appreciated their gesture, he humbly asks for what he wants.

Genesis 23:7–9 (ESV) 

7Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 

8And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 

9that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”

Abraham already knows the place he wants to buy. He has already thought about the possibility of Sarah dying. He wants to own the place of her burial. He wants his family to remain distinct and separate from the local people. This is crucial to God’s assignment. This is a consistent theme throughout the Bible.

In the New Testament the Apostle Paul urges the Corinthian church to maintain a separateness from the world:

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 (ESV) 

14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 

15What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 

16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

17Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 

18and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

The world longs to make God’s people like them so as to dilute their power. This passage is often quoted as a warning against a follower of Jesus marrying one who does not follow Jesus. And it certain applies there. But it also applies to a much broader set of circumstances. It speaks to every type of relationship. Do not form relationships that will influence or compel you to compromise your commitment to Jesus. 

In dating relationships, only date candidates for marriage. If you need to fix them, they are not a candidate. 

In work relationship and in the company you work for consider the culture. What do they stand for? No company is perfect but some clearly violate scriptural principles and some have work cultures that destroy families. 

In close friendship relationships choose people who help you be your best self. Be very careful about who you allow to influence you.

God’s people are almost always strangers in a foreign land. We are rarely the rulers in this life. Jesus did not come to establish an earthly kingdom. He came to establish a spiritual kingdom of those who respond to grace. One day, Jesus will come again by force. But the era we are living in today, is an era marked by God’s restraint of His power so that sinners can respond to His offer of salvation by faith and repentance.

This is why we are called to be in the world and not of the world. We are to be salt and light in a decomposing and dark world. If the salt loses its saltiness and the light goes out there is no hope for anyone.

Genesis 23:10–11 (ESV) 

10Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 

11“No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”

Ephron offers to give Abraham the field. While he may not be serious and only beginning the negotiating process, the effect of his offer would be that Abraham would forever be in his debt. Furthermore, Ephron could at any time rescind the offer. 

The world works like this, doesn’t it? Some people are always looking for an edge. They are always trying to gain an advantage, a card to play at a later, more opportune time. But Abraham was clear in his thinking. He knew his assignment could not be indebted or under the potential control of any earthly leader.

Genesis 23:12–16 (ESV) 

12Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 

13And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 

14Ephron answered Abraham, 

15“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.” 

16Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

Abraham gets Ephron to name his price. This is likely a very high price but it doesn’t matter to Abraham. He has the opportunity to establish a memorial in the land for his family that will serve as a reminder of God’s purpose.

Genesis 23:17–20 (ESV) 

17So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 

18to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 

19After 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. 

20The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

The memorial is established. Abraham’s descendants have a permanent place to bury their dead and a permanent reminder to continue to trust God to fulfill His promise.

Applications

Have you thought about your part in completing God’s assignment of making disciples? Like Abraham, much of it will need to be done by your descendants. 

How are you positioning and influencing them? 

What will your funeral slide show look like? The best ones constantly show the deceased’s love for their family and love for Jesus. 

Will people be surprised about your commitment to Jesus?

Your assignment, like Abraham’s is far bigger than you can accomplish in the days you have. Your life should be a memorial to Jesus and His call to follow Him. It should be a life that influences and positions others to follow Jesus as well. 

You will have descendants. Most of you will have physical offspring descendants. You will have children and grandchildren. 

Does your life point them to following Jesus, to receiving the gift of salvation through trust in Jesus and repentance? 

When they think of you, do they think of one who lives like Jesus?

Consider ways to have influence on your descendants. 

-       Pray for them every day.

-       Remind them of their spiritual heritage and personal testimony. 

-       Be a part of a church for the long haul if at all possible. Make sure they know of the importance of your church to you.

-       When you are together, try to have one meaningful conversation that points them to Jesus. Stop trying to fix the stuff that annoys you and focus on what truly matters. Try and talk about Jesus.

-       As much as possible, be an encourager.

-       When their lifestyle is so offensive that you need to protect yourself or other family members, find a place and a rhythm to be with them. Spend time. Text. Communicate.

-       Spend money to be with your descendants

All of you should have spiritual descendants. 

-       Pray for them daily.

-       Send them a text, a note, or an email to encourage them.

-       Celebrate with them what God has done and is doing.

-       Guard your heart and life so that you never become a stumbling block.

Close

God has given you an assignment that will be completed by your descendants. Live to position and influence to complete God’s assignment.

Position them to remain a distinct people committed to completing God’s assignment of making disciples.

What’s happening in your heart right now? 

Are there some things that need to change so that your funeral slide show will look differently? So that it will position and influence your descendants to receive the gift of salvation and complete the assignment?

Have you been living these years for you or to complete God’s assignment? I guarantee you that your descendants will know which is true of You.

I want us to spend a few minutes examining our hearts. What changes do you need to make in your life that will help influence and prepare your descendants to complete the assignment?