January 30, 2014 Honor

Honor

Read Genesis 23

Gen 23:7 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

ALTHOUGH Abraham had essentially settled down in an area that would one day be in the land God had promised for his descendants, Abraham owned no land. Still essentially considered a wanderer by the larger tribal groups in that area, he was at their mercy.

      How does God protect his chosen man and his family amid other people? He instills Abraham with honor.

      Abraham enjoys a reputation of honor among the Hittites. It is likely they would rather Abraham sought to bury Sarah elsewhere. But Ephron, the Hittite, was willing to offer him a cave at a price, which Abraham accepted.

      Read through this exchange, and you’ll see two gentlemen honoring each other as they bargain. Research shows Ephron offered a price twice the going rate for a burial cave in that day. As any seller, he expected Abraham to offer less, and they would come to an agreement. Imagine Ephron’s surprise when Abraham said, “Deal.”

      Abraham was quick to agree as he understood his disadvantage. And he was also quick to agree, I believe, as he sought to honor his “hosts” who lived at peace with him.

      Earlier accounts of Abraham and Lot describe the dangers of living here. A wrong word or a misinterpreted action could have sparked a murderous conflict among these people. Much of the Old Testament is about those conflicts, warring parties and devastating wars.

      Those conflicts occur because rules are greedy, self-seeking and dishonorable. But this was not the case with God’s chosen man. Abraham’s honorable actions caused others to honor him.

LIFE Link: God has honored you with the high cost of his Son.