The Patriarchs and Matriarchs
Sarah dies in the land of Canaan, and Abraham mourns for her before purchasing the field and cave of Machpelah as a burial place. In grief, Abraham takes possession of a small but significant piece of the land God promised.
God’s promises remain sure even through death and sorrow. Abraham still lives as a sojourner in the promised land, yet the purchase of Machpelah gives his household a permanent possession there and quietly points toward the continuing fulfillment of God’s promise.
After Abraham’s testing, Scripture turns briefly to Nahor’s family and introduces Rebekah. What appears to be a simple genealogy quietly prepares the reader for the continuation of God’s covenant purposes through Isaac and the next generation.
God’s purposes extend beyond the events immediately visible to His people. While Abraham walks in obedience, God has already been providentially preparing people and circumstances that will become important in the continuation of the promised line.
The LORD appears to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, where Abraham receives three visitors with generous hospitality. During the encounter, the LORD announces that Sarah will have a son at the appointed time. Sarah laughs within herself because of her age, but the LORD exposes her hidden laughter and answers the apparent impossibility with the defining question: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?”
Thirteen years after Ishmael’s birth, the LORD appears again to Abram, identifies Himself as Almighty God, reaffirms and expands His covenant promises, changes Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah, establishes circumcision as the covenant sign, and declares unmistakably that Sarah herself will bear the promised son, Isaac.
Sarai and Abram seek to obtain the promised offspring through Hagar, bringing conflict and suffering into the household. Yet the LORD finds Hagar in the wilderness, hears her affliction, speaks to her concerning her son, and Hagar recognizes Him as the God who sees her.
God tests Abraham concerning Isaac, the promised son. Abraham obeys, but God stops the sacrifice, provides a ram, and reaffirms His covenant promises.
