"So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site."
Genesis 23:17-20
The congregation meeting in Haskell has decided to read through the Bible in one year, using the Daily Bible, a chronological bible. This will be Brandy's second time completely through God's word, and it would be my second time if I had done a better job of staying up with my reading the last time.
So today, we buried Sarah. Actually we didn't, Abraham did.
With my penchant for history, I did some research on the location where Sarah was buried, now known as the Tomb (or Cave) of the Patriarchs (Abraham and Sarah, Issac and Rebekka, and Jacob and Leah are supposedly lain to rest in caves below the structure). Come to find out, the area has been a hotly disputed "Holy location" for both Jews and Muslims. Abraham had buried Sarah there only for latter generations to move away into Egypt. The land would then be given back to the Israelites through conquest, only for their immorality to place them in bondage. Herod the Great had built walls around the location. The Muslims seized the location within a decade of their religion's upstart in Mecca. It was even a Catholic church at one time during the crusades.
I guess what struck me the most, was how the conflict that has the world in a turmoil today, is the same turmoil that has driven the world for thousands of years. People who believe in God, whether they call him Jehovah or Allah, who fight over a location of bones that remain in a tomb. They fight for their traditions. Each group sees themselves doing what is right in their God's eyes. They are willing to die believing their strife is for God's glory. They will continue to fight until one side or the other relents, and this is why the struggle continues to this day.
But we Christians are above that...right?
Although the most important of tombs for Christians is empty, we fight for our traditions. When we fight we see ourselves doing what is right in God's eyes. We believe our strife will be for God's glory. The only difference is that most of the times we are fighting each other! This too has gone on for ages and is why Paul would remind Christians in Ephesians 4.
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8T his is why it[a] says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."[b]
9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Really to get the full meaning in context, I would suggest reading the entire chapter.
How happy it must make Satan when he looks at people who say they follow God, but hurt one another.
