Death of Abraham & Sarah – Genesis 23-25

Death

 

 

Wednesday 06/14/17 

Message – Death of Abraham & Sarah

Series: Thru the Bible – Genesis 23-25

Click HERE for Video

 

 Death of Abraham & Sarah

Chapter 23 – The Death of Sarah

  • Sarah lives a total of 127 years, her death occurring just about 10 before Eber who was part of Babel.
  • Abraham weeps over the death of his wife. Up to this point Abraham has appeared to me much like a barrel-chested brutish man with the demeanor of a cowboy…swagger and all, but this chapter reveals another side to this great man. His love for his wife and his reputation among his neighbors tell us much about him.
  • Abraham’s relationship with the Hitties is good.
    • There is mutual respect between them.
    • Abraham is revealed as a man who was honorable and likable.
    • He purchases a field with a cave in which to bury his dead, beginning with Sarah.

Chapter 24

  • Abraham was getting old (by their standards) and so he instructed his most trusted and long-standing servant with the honorable task of finding a wife for his son Isaac in his native land.
  • Abraham is very clear to NOT allow Issac to return there, since his land of inheritance is in Canaan. Abraham did not want his son to be presented with ANY temptation to return.
  • The attitude and actions of  Eliezer (Abraham’s trusted servant) reveal much of his own character as well as that of his master.
    • He was faithful and diligent to perform all Abraham had asked of him.
    • He was unashamed of God (Who he referred to as the God of my Master Abraham).
    • He openly praised and prayed to him in the presence of others.
    • He refused to be comforted even after his long journey until he had spoken to Laban’s household ALL his Master Abraham had appointed him to say.
  • Isaac loved Rebekah and was comforted concerning the death of his mother.

Chapter 25

  • Abraham marries again, a woman named Keturah and has several children with her.
  • Abraham lives long enough for them to grow up and have kids of their own before sending them off to the east laden down with gifts.
  • Isaac is Abraham’s only heir to the covenant and so gives everything his owns to him before he died.
  • Abraham’s death was at 175 years of age. He was buried in the cave he purchased from the Hitties. Ishmael even came with Isaac to bury their father.
  • Ishmael’s death was at 137 years. He had 12 sons who all became princes.
  • His children settled from Havilah to Shur (near Egypt) all the way to Assyria.

There is much more information in the audio/video of the actual message. I hope you listen, learn and enjoy!

Blessings! 

 

 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will be mentioned.

If you have been spiritually fed by this ministry and wish to give, we truly appreciate that and you may do so here, but all outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

 

Blessings!

 

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!