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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (10-3-1996 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
The death of Sarah occurred 25 years after the incident
when Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac. Genesis 23 contains a number of
Bible “firsts”. The first mention of mourning for the dead, purchase of
land, use of silver as a medium of exchange, man weeping. And it is the first
and only mention of a lady’s age.
But our main concern is to be Sarah and her death. Sarah has been mentioned from time to time, but she has never been in the forefront of the narrative. She is constantly in the shadow of Abraham. But now we are going to consider her in her own right. It is important to do so because Peter holds her up to Christian women as an example when he is setting forth the duties of husband and wife (1 Peter 3:6).
We first met Sarah early in the narrative, when Abraham
and Sarah together left Ur of the Chaldees (Genesis 11:31). She was not only
Abraham’s wife, but also his half sister, the daughter of his father, though
not the daughter of his mother (Genesis 20:12). She was obviously an attractive
woman (Genesis 12:14), and proved attractive to the Pharaoh of Egypt, and
Abimelech King of Geror (Genesis 21:2).
She was Abraham’s companion
for 70 or 80 years. She was 10 years his junior, and died at 127. Though a true
believer, she was not on the same spiritual level as Abraham. She totally
rejected the idea that she would have a son (Genesis 18:13), and laughed at the
idea when she considered her age. When she was told nothing was too hard for the
Lord, she denied that she had laughed, and the Lord pointed out to her that she
had lied. Truthfulness was not her greatest virtue. This is seen also when she
told Abraham to say she was his sister, to save his life. This lie, told to both
Pharaoh and Abimelech, was rebuked by a heathen king (Genesis 20:13).
But it is the incident with
Hagar the maid that shows Sarah in the least flattering light. She was impatient
for a son, and therefore persuaded Abraham to have a son by her maid. This led
to harsh treatment of Hagar, and driving her out of the home. Sarah was spiteful
and vindictive. And yet Hebrews describes her as a woman of faith. By
faith, even Sarah, who was past age, was enabled to bear children because she
considered Him faithful who had made the promise (Hebrews 11:11). Little
faith may fail and falter, but it holds on, and it may grow.
Though in the shadows while
Abraham was in the limelight, her presence was always there. She had strength of
character and ability. While Abraham was an idealist and a dreamer, Sarah was
down to earth. Abraham was patient and enduring, but Sarah was more assertive
and shrewd. Abraham knew God better, Sarah knew human nature more. While Abraham
waited on God, Sarah was more of a schemer. But her greatest virtue was her
support and loyalty to her husband, through thick and thin.
Wives, in the same way be
submissive to you husbands… Your beauty … should be that of your inner self,
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit… like Sarah, who obeyed
Abraham and called him her master (1 Peter 3:1-6). Though Peter does not
overlook the fact that that husbands are responsible to treat their wives with
respect and love (1 Peter 3:7). Sarah was prepared to leave home in Ur to go to
Canaan at God’s command. No doubt she felt keenly the parting from loved ones,
but she loyally followed her husband. There is no suggestion that she hindered
him. She was prepared to be a pilgrim and a stranger with him.
Sarah was always there, morning till evening, through
storm and calm, in shadow or in sunshine, in poverty, famine and danger.
Prosperity or adversity – nothing divided them. Probably being wanderers in
strange lands and facing dangers together drew them closer together, and they
clung to one another. Probably their latter years were the happiest. For years
they had lived with disappointment because the promised son had not arrived. But
Isaac’s arrival was the completion of their happiness.
Why labour this point? Surely we
can take this for granted? But we cannot take this for granted. The truth is
that many men called by God are hindered by their wives, especially in the
ministry. Some wives do not want to travel far away from home. Some are not
prepared to accept the hazards and problems of their husband’s careers. Some
are reluctant to take a cut in salary, and resent their husbands giving up their
secure 9-5 jobs, in order to endure treatment that would not be tolerated in
other forms of work. Hence the need for wives to be interviewed when men apply
for the ministry.
Dr Alexander Maclaren said of
his wife, to whom he was married for 28 years, that he wanted it to be mentioned
in any notices of what he was or he had done that the best part of it all came
from her. “She was my guide, inspirer, corrector and reward. Of all human
formative influences on my character, hers was the strongest and the best.”
Probably Abraham could have said that of Sarah.
Proverbs says much about wives. A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown (Proverbs 12:4). A prudent wife is from the Lord (Proverbs 19:14). A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more then rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life (Proverbs 31:10ff). She is described as hard working, caring, economical, generous and supportive. She speaks wisdom and wins the respect of her children. Charm is deceptive, and beauty of fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31:30).
We do not know the cause of Sarah’s death, but possibly
it was simply old age. Isaac was nearly 40 years old by now, and had lived at
home, therefore was the object of his mother’s love and affection. Her death
was a great blow to him, something he did not find consolation from until his
own marriage to Rebekah (Genesis 24:67).
But the greatest blow was felt
by Abraham. It was made harder because he was obviously not at home when she
died, and Abraham went to mourn for her and weep for her (Genesis 23:2). It was
a shattering experience. The link with his life-long companion went back to
childhood. When he recalled the old days, back in Ur, with Terah and Nahor and
Haran, she could remember it all too. They could reminisce together. Their
wanderings over the years had deepened their dependence on each other, and bound
them more closely together. What a tide of memories must have come flooding back
as he mourned. Above all they were knit together as God’s chosen ones to be
his instruments and the founders of His people Israel.
It is not surprising that the
record tells us he wept now. He did not weep when he left Ur, or at the news of
Lot’s captivity, but when Sarah dies, the fountain of grief bursts forth.
There is nothing unmanly or unsuitable about Abraham’s tears, though men do
not often weep. The Gospel does not make us unnatural or inhuman. But it
purifies and ennobles our emotions. Jesus wept (John 11:35), Peter wept (Matthew
26:75), the Ephesian converts wept on the neck of Paul, because they thought
they would never see him again (Acts 20:37).
Abraham’s tears were a tribute
to his wife’s worth, steadfastness, devotion and love. Not all tears flow at
death for these reasons. Some weep because of unspoken regret. They wish they
had not acted so, wish they could recall harsh words, wish they had expressed
their love more often, or been more gentle and loving.
It is good to project our lives
as we shall see them before the judgement seat of Christ and also, as we shall
think of them in the hour of bereavement and mourning. It should spur us on to
do all the good we can, in all the ways we can, while we still can.
But in his sorrow, Abraham
wisely took steps to be active, so that his sorrow did not overwhelm him. The
body of his dead wife was precious, therefore he negotiated for its proper
burial. He did for her what she would wish. In all the negotiations he was
courteous and polite. He insisted on paying for the land, even though it was
offered as a gift. Therefore he gained the first foothold in the land of Canaan,
revealing his great faith in the promises of God that he and his seed would
possess the land.
There is Eastern sentiment over
burial with ancestors. But Abraham did not wish to return to his original home.
The burial was in Canaan, because he believed this land would remain the
possession of his family, as God had promised. In this land was buried Sarah,
Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah and Jacob. Visitors today are still shown
“Abraham’s Tomb”, the Cave of Machpelah, though no Christians are allowed
to enter and explore.
So even in the hour of grief and bereavement, Abraham was still mindful of God – His promises and His purposes.
We are not told but we may well
assume that God meant much more to Abraham now than ever before. He had already
had many revelations of God – the Lord, the Covenant God, the Most High, the
Almighty, the Eternal, Jehovah Jirah, the Lord will provide. These titles were
more precious to him now than ever. He was sure that the God who called him, led
him, rescued him and promised him, would not desert him now in his hour of need,
his grief and old age. Also he has the further consolation that death was not
the end. There was something beyond.
Of course the view of future life was not as clear and precise in Old Testament times. How could it be? They were living before the coming of the One who was the Resurrection and the Life. Yet repeatedly and with greater detail the truth of life beyond the grave became clearer. Abraham, though at the beginning of the Old Testament history, was not without hope. The everlasting God had promised, the everlasting covenant to be God to him and to his descendants (Genesis 21:33; 17:7). He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God….. longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:10,16).
The Old Testament patriarchs
held on to God’s promises. They knew they were only pilgrims and strangers on
earth. They died in faith, knowing they had not received all that was promised
on earth. They anticipated the coming homeland. Interestingly, after his death,
God tells Isaac He is the God of Abraham (Genesis 26:24). In other words, He is
not the God of the dead, but of the living (Mark 12:27).
So Abraham knew God had brought
him to Himself to enter fellowship which death could not sever. There was more
to come beyond this life, fulfilment of promises yet to take place, a city and
heavenly country yet to be enjoyed, more blessings of the everlasting covenant
to be realized. This life is only the beginning of a relationship with God.
But how much more can we say
about this subject living in the New Testament era? We are not dependent on the
occasional verses but on God’s final revelation of His salvation and all that
entails. Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life
and immortality to light through the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). We have light
on this matter which is very clear, distinct and definite. We have the emphatic
statement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you not in error because you do not
know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise…. (Mark
12:24f). I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live,
even though he dies (John 11:25).
Not only do we have His word on
it, but also in His crucifixion and resurrection He abolished death. He rose on
the third day, alive for evermore, death is defeated. He gave many convincing
proofs that he was alive (Acts 1:3). He continues to this day and forever in
a risen glorified state. Because I live, you also will live (John 14:19).
Then we have the teaching of the Apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit. In Christ, all will be made alive… For the perishable must clothe
itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality (1 Corinthians
15:22,53).
This is our great hope and strong consolation in bereavement. And beyond that is His presence in our need. John G. Paton, on the Island of Tanna in the New Hebrides in 1858, his wife died in childbirth, and the child died as well. Buried in same quiet graves which he dug himself. He said that though he was threatened, he was never altogether forsaken. “The Lord sustained me… But for Jesus and the fellowship he vouchsafed me, I must have gone mad.”
The seriousness of death is brought home to us. There is only one life, and it will soon be past. What are your prospects for a future with Christ?
