Genesis 22:20-23:20 “Sarah’s Death and Burial”

“And 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.”
Genesis 23:2 (ESV)

We don’t like to think about it; we avoid talking about it; but death is a painful reality of life. Losing a spouse is like losing half of your soul. We don’t know how long Abraham and Sarah were married, but it had been 62 years since the couple left Haran to live in the land of Canaan.

Genesis is known as the book of “firsts”. This is the first time the word “weep” appears in the Bible. Weeping is the perfectly natural response when someone we love has died. Even Jesus wept over the loss of a friend.

“Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water.”
Christopher Morley

Death is an unwelcomed visitor who often comes unexpectedly. It robs us of our loved ones and leaves behind grief in their place. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 (NLT)

Believers in Jesus Christ have the hope of reunification with their loved ones. We also have the Comforter of the Holy Spirit. The God of all comfort comforts His children who mourn (Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Since Abraham owned no land, he had to purchase a field to bury Sarah. The Holy Spirit devotes a good amount of Scripture to the details of this real estate transaction. This teaches us that even in the midst of bereavement, practical needs must be met.

If you have lost someone close to you, then you are missing “the desire of your eyes” (Ezekiel 24:16). There are no words to remove the pain, but there may be many tears. Remember that you do not need to grieve alone. The Comforter is nearby waiting for your call.