The Life/Death of Sarah

 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.

Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”

The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”

Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.” Genesis 23:1-9 NIV

Until now, Abraham and his clan wandered the promised land and in their hands, they had only a promise. No written contracts, no acquisitions. And then the drama unfolds - Isaacs Binding (Chapter 22 of Genesis), naturally, this event gives rise to tragedy. Ordinary domestic tragedy. The mother's heart cannot stand the expectation, and she, in search of her son and husband, having reached Hebron, dies. At least that’s according to the rabbinical commentary. Her death gives Abraham a reason to enter a formal contract to purchase property in the promised land. Since then, many centuries have passed, and the Promised Land, that is, Israel, has become not only a “promise”, but a reality - the land that belongs to the children of Abraham, the Jewish people, to us.

Death gives birth to life, no matter how terrifying it may sound. Death brings reward. But this applies only to the death of the Righteous. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” (Psalms 116:15 NIV) And we also read the words of the Lord: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24 NIV) – this is a common truth, although it is very difficult for us to understand. And it was difficult for the disciples of Yeshua to accept this truth since it was a direct allusion/prophecy about His death… But all this was laid as a principle from ancient times. The idea of ​​death/redemption was clear to Adam, who received the word - for sin "to death" - that is, you will pay for your sin.

It is in this format that it is so important to realize that no sacrifice goes unnoticed, and the result, a good result, and the fruit of sacrifice, will bless many generations.

This is also the basis of a great promise, so little described in the Tanakh, but already described from ancient times in the prayer practice of Israel, and later by the disciples of Yeshua, who conveyed and approved this Idea in the promises of the New Testament - the Resurrection of the dead/good gmul /retribution. In the prayer of Amid, the words "God is faithful to raise the dead" are repeated dozens of times. Prayer Iskor - God who gave you life and allowed you to die, having grown old, RESURRECTS you on the day of One! The New Testament encourages us - do not grieve beyond measure, He will resurrect everyone!

Scripture connects these two points - sacrifice and resurrection, the desire to do good, to act according to the will of God. This is what defines us in our coming resurrection - glory or disgrace, "a brand of fire" or Good retribution from the Heavenly Father. Let's continue to live, looking at Heaven!

Sincerely, Leon Mazin

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