After the death of Sarah, Abraham purchased a place to bury her in the land of promise. He invested in the land God had already promised to him. The lesson focuses on our following Abraham's example and investing in His promises. Free PowerPoint Download at www.BibleGuy.org

1. Invest in God’s PromisesInvest in God’s Promises
Genesis 22:20–23:1-20 (NET)Genesis 22:20–23:1-20 (NET)

2. What Do We Invest In?What Do We Invest In?
• We make financialWe make financial
investmentsinvestments
• HouseHouse
• RetirementRetirement
• EducationEducation
• HealthHealth
• LooksLooks
• EntertainmentEntertainment
• Our ChildrenOur Children
• Do we invest in God’sDo we invest in God’s
promises?promises?
• Only these have eternalOnly these have eternal
dividendsdividends
• In our primary textIn our primary text
today Abraham makestoday Abraham makes
an investment in God’san investment in God’s
Promise.Promise.
Matthew 6:19–20 (NET)
19
“Do not accumulate for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy and where thieves break in and
steal. 20
But accumulate for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where moth and rust
do not destroy, and thieves do not break
in and steal.

3. Hearing News From HomeHearing News From Home
Genesis 22:20–23:1-20 (NET)Genesis 22:20–23:1-20 (NET)
2020
After these things Abraham wasAfter these things Abraham was
told, “Milcah also has bornetold, “Milcah also has borne
children to your brother Nahor –children to your brother Nahor – 2121
Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz,Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz,
Kemuel (the father of Aram),Kemuel (the father of Aram), 2222
Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph,Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph,
and Bethuel.”and Bethuel.” 2323
(Now Bethuel(Now Bethuel
became the father of Rebekah.)became the father of Rebekah.)
These were the eight sons MilcahThese were the eight sons Milcah
bore to Abraham’s brother Nahor.bore to Abraham’s brother Nahor.
2424
His concubine, whose name wasHis concubine, whose name was
Reumah, also bore him children –Reumah, also bore him children –
Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, andTebah, Gaham, Tahash, and
Maacah.Maacah.
• Context: Abraham hasContext: Abraham has
offered his only son.offered his only son.
• Abraham’s possibleAbraham’s possible
emotionsemotions
• HomesickHomesick
• JealousyJealousy
• Abraham has a choice –Abraham has a choice –
Continue to trust God orContinue to trust God or
go home and walk awaygo home and walk away
from the God’s promise.from the God’s promise.

4. Lows in our Life Effect Decisions toLows in our Life Effect Decisions to
Trust God’s PromiseTrust God’s Promise
Genesis 23 (NET)Genesis 23 (NET)
11
Sarah lived 127 years.Sarah lived 127 years. 22
Then she died in KiriathThen she died in Kiriath
Arba (that is, Hebron) inArba (that is, Hebron) in
the land of Canaan.the land of Canaan.
Abraham went to mournAbraham went to mourn
for Sarah and to weep forfor Sarah and to weep for
her.her.
• Sarah is the only womanSarah is the only woman
in the Bible whose age isin the Bible whose age is
given.given.
• This is the first time weThis is the first time we
see weeping in the Bible.see weeping in the Bible.
• Sorrow forces decisions:Sorrow forces decisions:
• Will he go home?Will he go home?
• Will he give up on God?Will he give up on God?
• What good are God’sWhat good are God’s
promises w/out your lovedpromises w/out your loved
one to share it with?one to share it with?

5. Abraham Invests in God’s PromiseAbraham Invests in God’s Promise
33
Then Abraham got upThen Abraham got up
from mourning his deadfrom mourning his dead
wife and said to the sonswife and said to the sons
of Heth,of Heth, 44
“I am a“I am a
temporary settler amongtemporary settler among
you. Grant meyou. Grant me
ownership of a burialownership of a burial
site among you so that Isite among you so that I
may bury my dead.”may bury my dead.”
• Instead of forsakingInstead of forsaking
God’s promise,God’s promise,
Abraham invests inAbraham invests in
God’s land promise.God’s land promise.
• God had promised theGod had promised the
land, yet he was only aland, yet he was only a
sojourner, foreigner.sojourner, foreigner.
• Though a foreigner inThough a foreigner in
life, he wanted residencylife, he wanted residency
for Sarah and himself infor Sarah and himself in
death.death.

6. Reputation Should be noReputation Should be no
Exemption from InvestmentExemption from Investment
55
The sons of HethThe sons of Heth
answered Abraham,answered Abraham, 66
“Listen, sir, you are a“Listen, sir, you are a
mighty prince amongmighty prince among
us! You may bury yourus! You may bury your
dead in the choicest ofdead in the choicest of
our tombs. None of usour tombs. None of us
will refuse you his tombwill refuse you his tomb
to prevent you fromto prevent you from
burying your dead.”burying your dead.”
• Abraham was highlyAbraham was highly
regarded.regarded.
• He could get what heHe could get what he
wanted based on thatwanted based on that
reputation.reputation.
• Problem: It would be aProblem: It would be a
borrowed tomb. The landborrowed tomb. The land
is someone else's.is someone else's.

7. Know Your InvestmentKnow Your Investment
77
Abraham got up and bowedAbraham got up and bowed
down to the local people,down to the local people,
the sons of Heth.the sons of Heth. 88
ThenThen
he said to them, “If youhe said to them, “If you
agree that I may bury myagree that I may bury my
dead, then hear me out.dead, then hear me out.
Ask Ephron the son ofAsk Ephron the son of
ZoharZohar 99
if he will sell meif he will sell me
the cave of Machpelahthe cave of Machpelah
that belongs to him; it is atthat belongs to him; it is at
the end of his field. Letthe end of his field. Let
him sell it to me publiclyhim sell it to me publicly
for the full price, so that Ifor the full price, so that I
may own it as a burialmay own it as a burial
site.”site.”
• He doesn’t want aHe doesn’t want a
borrowed tomb for Sarah.borrowed tomb for Sarah.
• He has picked out theHe has picked out the
choicest tomb. He haschoicest tomb. He has
planed it out.planed it out.
• Application:Application:
• Don’t live off other’sDon’t live off other’s
investments for God.investments for God.
Invest-make it yours.Invest-make it yours.
• Don’t make blindDon’t make blind
investments. Know whatinvestments. Know what
promises your investing in.promises your investing in.

8. Don’t let worldly obstacles keepDon’t let worldly obstacles keep
you from investing in the promise.you from investing in the promise.
1010
(Now Ephron was sitting(Now Ephron was sitting
among the sons of Heth.)among the sons of Heth.)
Ephron the Hethite repliedEphron the Hethite replied
to Abraham in the hearingto Abraham in the hearing
of the sons of Heth –of the sons of Heth –
before all who entered thebefore all who entered the
gate of his city –gate of his city – 1111
“No,“No,
my lord! Hear me out. Imy lord! Hear me out. I
sell you both the field andsell you both the field and
the cave that is in it. In thethe cave that is in it. In the
presence of my people Ipresence of my people I
sell it to you. Bury yoursell it to you. Bury your
dead.”dead.”
• Abraham only wanted theAbraham only wanted the
caves, not the field.caves, not the field.
• Ephron insisted thatEphron insisted that
Abraham buy the field ifAbraham buy the field if
he wanted the cave.he wanted the cave.
• Ephron is takingEphron is taking
advantage of Abraham’sadvantage of Abraham’s
circumstances.circumstances.
Application: Even if theApplication: Even if the
world takes advantageworld takes advantage
invest in God’s promise.invest in God’s promise.

9. The tomb was worth theThe tomb was worth the
price of the fieldprice of the field
1212
Abraham bowed beforeAbraham bowed before
the local peoplethe local people 1313
andand
said to Ephron in theirsaid to Ephron in their
hearing, “Hear me, ifhearing, “Hear me, if
you will. I pay to youyou will. I pay to you
the price of the field.the price of the field.
Take it from me so that ITake it from me so that I
may bury my deadmay bury my dead
there.”there.”
• Abraham is willing toAbraham is willing to
be taken advantage of tobe taken advantage of to
invest in the promise.invest in the promise.

10. Don’t let the price hinderDon’t let the price hinder
the investmentthe investment
1414
Ephron answeredEphron answered
Abraham, saying to him,Abraham, saying to him,
1515
“Hear me, my lord.“Hear me, my lord.
The land is worth 400The land is worth 400
pieces of silver, butpieces of silver, but
what is that between mewhat is that between me
and you? So bury yourand you? So bury your
dead.”dead.”
• There is an oldThere is an old
derogatory statement,derogatory statement,
“being jewed”, Abraham“being jewed”, Abraham
is “being gentiled”.is “being gentiled”.
Application: InvestmentsApplication: Investments
in God’s promises yieldin God’s promises yield
high dividends. Theyhigh dividends. They
are worth the price ofare worth the price of
being laughed at.being laughed at.
Jeremiah buys a field for only seventeen sheckles of
silver (Jer 32:9)
David paid only one-eighth that amount (50 shekels
of silver) for the purchase of the temple site from
Araunah (2 Sam 24:24)

11. There is a high worldly price forThere is a high worldly price for
investment’s in God’s Promisesinvestment’s in God’s Promises
1616
So Abraham agreed toSo Abraham agreed to
Ephron’s price andEphron’s price and
weighed out for him theweighed out for him the
price that Ephron hadprice that Ephron had
quoted in the hearing ofquoted in the hearing of
the sons of Heth – 400the sons of Heth – 400
pieces of silver,pieces of silver,
according to theaccording to the
standard measurementstandard measurement
at the time.at the time.
• He doesn’t bicker.He doesn’t bicker.
• He doesn’t grip.He doesn’t grip.
• He doesn’t hesitate.He doesn’t hesitate.
• He has witnesses, notHe has witnesses, not
just to the transaction,just to the transaction,
but to Ephron’s scandal.but to Ephron’s scandal.
Application: Be ready forApplication: Be ready for
the world’s abuse whenthe world’s abuse when
making investments inmaking investments in
God’s promises.God’s promises.

12. Investment is Confirmation ofInvestment is Confirmation of
Faith in God’s PromiseFaith in God’s Promise
1717
So Abraham securedSo Abraham secured
Ephron’s field inEphron’s field in
Machpelah, next toMachpelah, next to
Mamre, including theMamre, including the
field, the cave that was infield, the cave that was in
it, and all the trees thatit, and all the trees that
were in the field and allwere in the field and all
around its border,around its border, 1818
as hisas his
property in the presenceproperty in the presence
of the sons of Heth beforeof the sons of Heth before
all who entered the gate ofall who entered the gate of
Ephron’s city.Ephron’s city.
Abraham’s investmentAbraham’s investment
secured is a financialsecured is a financial
confirmation of hisconfirmation of his
commitment to staying incommitment to staying in
Canaan and trusting inCanaan and trusting in
God’s promise, even afterGod’s promise, even after
death.death.
Application: “Put yourApplication: “Put your
money where your mouthmoney where your mouth
is.” We invest in what weis.” We invest in what we
believe in.believe in.

13. A Place for Sarah set the stageA Place for Sarah set the stage
for a place for Israelfor a place for Israel
1919
After this AbrahamAfter this Abraham
buried his wife Sarah inburied his wife Sarah in
the cave in the field ofthe cave in the field of
Machpelah next toMachpelah next to
Mamre (that is, Hebron)Mamre (that is, Hebron)
in the land of Canaan.in the land of Canaan. 2020
So Abraham secured theSo Abraham secured the
field and the cave thatfield and the cave that
was in it as a burial sitewas in it as a burial site
from the sons of Heth.from the sons of Heth.
• Abraham invested inAbraham invested in
God’s promise andGod’s promise and
made Canaan themade Canaan the
permanent residence forpermanent residence for
his wife, himself and hishis wife, himself and his
descendants.descendants.

14. The Importance of Abraham’sThe Importance of Abraham’s
InvestmentInvestment
The Cave of Machpelah became the glue of Abraham’sThe Cave of Machpelah became the glue of Abraham’s
descendant to Canaan.descendant to Canaan.
• Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Leah, andAbraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Leah, and
possibly Joseph are buried there.possibly Joseph are buried there.
• It is the second holiest site for Jews, next to theIt is the second holiest site for Jews, next to the
Temple mount. It has been venerated by ChristiansTemple mount. It has been venerated by Christians
and Jews for centuries.and Jews for centuries.
Genesis 25:8–10 (NET)
8
Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age,
an old man who had lived a full life. He joined his ancestors. 9
His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of
Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of
Zohar, the Hethite. 10
This was the field Abraham had
purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried
with his wife Sarah.
Genesis 35:27–29 (NET)
27
So Jacob came back to his father Isaac in Mamre, to Kiriath
Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28
Isaac lived to be 180 years old. 29
Then Isaac breathed his last
and joined his ancestors. He died an old man who had lived a
full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Genesis 50:13 (NET)
13
His sons carried him (Jacob) to the land of Canaan and
buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, near
Mamre. This is the field Abraham purchased as a burial plot
from Ephron the Hittite.

15. The Tomb of the PatriarchsThe Tomb of the Patriarchs
It is presently covered by a Mosque and isIt is presently covered by a Mosque and is
under the security of Muslims.under the security of Muslims.

16. ConclusionConclusion
• It’s alright to mourn the death of loved ones:It’s alright to mourn the death of loved ones:
Abraham wept for Sarah; Jesus wept for Lazarus.Abraham wept for Sarah; Jesus wept for Lazarus.
• Relatives, friends and the old life may tempt us toRelatives, friends and the old life may tempt us to
forsake God’s plan for us.forsake God’s plan for us.
• Look for opportunities to fulfill God’s promisesLook for opportunities to fulfill God’s promises
during times of loss.during times of loss.
• Don’t just receive God’s promises – Invest in God’sDon’t just receive God’s promises – Invest in God’s
Promises!!!!Promises!!!!
• God rewards your investment in His Promises!!!God rewards your investment in His Promises!!!

17. Matthew 6:19–20 (NET)Matthew 6:19–20 (NET)
1919
“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth,“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves breakwhere moth and rust destroy and where thieves break
in and steal.in and steal. 2020
But accumulate for yourselves treasuresBut accumulate for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, andin heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and
thieves do not break in and steal.thieves do not break in and steal.
Let your Greatest Investments Be in God’s Kingdom.Let your Greatest Investments Be in God’s Kingdom.
The Dividends are Eternal!!!The Dividends are Eternal!!!