Genesis 23: A Real Estate Deal That Really Wasn’t a Deal

(upbeat music) - Welcome to chapter by chapter four year journey through the greatest book given to the human race, the Word of God, the Bible. We get to go through a chapter by chapter, seven minutes a day, seven days a week. Join us each day and share it with others so they can join this journey that will be life changing. We will stop at unexpected places on the journey and be challenged. Some verses will create awe and wonder and we will have chapters that will be instructive and in others we're gonna find joy and comfort. We will occasionally be convicted and need to change but all in all the journey will be worth it. Once in a while we may take a detour on the journey and hear from some of God's servants on their favorite passages from a chapter of scripture and let them give you their insight. Every journey needs a small detour occasionally. The best way to get the most from this podcast is read the chapter we're discussing before or after. It's his word that transforms. You will find more and see more than I can ever articulate. Welcome to chapter by chapter and today's chapter is Genesis 23. Sarah lived to see Isaac grow to 37 years old. She died at 127. Genesis 23 opens with a death and a deal of the 20 verses in this chapter. 18 is the art of the deal. Seems rather odd upon first glance that instead of doing a memory video over 127 years you focus on the negotiations for her burial site. There must be something important here for us to see. As soon as Abraham mourned, he got off his knees and took care of business. The Bible says this in verses three through six. The Abraham arose from before his dead, spoke to the sons of Beth saying, "I am a stranger and a sojourner among you. Give me a burial site among you that I may bury my dead out of my sight." The sons of Beth answered Abraham saying to him, "Hear us, my Lord, you are a mighty prince among us. "Berry your dead and the choices of our graves. "None of us will refuse you his grave "for burying your dead." What is more puzzling than 90% of this chapter being negotiations is a mourning husband unwilling to take a big discount. The landowners in Hebron were trying to give away Sarah's would-be tomb, but Abraham wouldn't have any of it. The conversation went like this in verse five. The sons of Beth answered Abraham saying, "Hear us, my Lord, you are a mighty prince. "Berry your dead and the choices of our graves "and none of us will refuse it." So Abraham rose bowed to the people of the land that sons of Beth and he spoke with them saying, "If it is your wish for me to bury my dead "out of my sight, hear me an approach. "Ephron, the son of Zohair, for me, "that he may give me the cave of Makpala, "which he owns, which is at the end of his field, "for the full price. "Let him give it to me in your presence for a burial site." Now, Ephron was sitting among the sons of Beth and Ephron, the head type, answered Abraham and the hearing of the sons of Beth, even of all who went in at the gate of the city, saying, "No, my Lord, hear me. "I will give you the field. "I'll give you the cave that's in it." In the presence of the sons of my people, I give it to you, bury your dead and Abraham bowed before the people of the land. He spoke to Ephron and the hearing of the people, saying, "If you will only please listen to me, "I will give the price of the field, "except it from me that I may bury my dead there." Abraham would not take the land for free, but wanted to pay full price. He weighed out 400 shekels of silver. In fact, verse 16 throws in this humorous phrase, commercial standard. The message paraphrased it as at the current exchange rate. Ephron, the landowner, had to be shocked. He would have thought you always negotiate for a real estate deal. Who is this man paying full price? Honestly, I'm thinking what Ephron thought. I come from a negotiating family. It's not being disrespectful, but my dad invented the art of the deal. He would never pay full price for anything. I was actually in a retail department store with him as he was purchasing something, and he asked the young man at the cash register, "What's the best deal you can give me on this?" The young man was puzzled, I was embarrassed, and my father waited patiently for his new price. My father was a man of faith, but he did not live by Abraham negotiations. What can we learn from a burial plot negotiation that had the seller going lower and the buyer fighting to keep the price higher? I think Abraham reminds us that priorities trump savings. You may have to pay more for something because of your values. My wife and I live in a very expensive city and in a very small apartment. We have discussed the option of moving much further out of our city so we could pay half the price for double the space. We realize that the deal does not fit our conviction. If our nation faces a crisis, we know New York City can be a target, we know we need to be near our church and the people we love. Abraham was willing to pay full price for the land because at that moment he was a mourner, not a dealer. He didn't want to give any space to the emotions of winning a price. He was content to pay 400 shekels, so he can keep his heart intact. I'm willing to pay our rent in New York City because I'm a pastor first and not looking for a real estate deal. I know this doesn't apply to all, but it does to me. I think I finally understand what's happening. The father of faith is not negotiating so he can keep his heart in the right place. He was a loving husband who lost the love of his life. They saw miracles together, went on a journey of faith together, rescued a family member from Sodom, parented a child as an elderly couple and even saw Jesus one afternoon. His last memory is not going to be, I got a deal on the plot and headstone for my wife. It would be of a man that cherished a woman that went on a faith journey. He was mourning and would not give that up for a discount. Thank you for joining chapter by chapter. Every chapter from the greatest book, the Bible, the Word of God. Seven minutes a day, seven days a week. We'll see you tomorrow.