Fri.’s Devo - Burying Grounds

Read Gen. 23:1-20

Sarah died at 127 years of age. She died in Kirjath-arba which means “the city of 4 giants”. It is later called Hebron which means “the seat of association”. Its founder was an Anakim. The Anakim were associated with giants, which were many times half-human/half-spiritual beings (demonic). Cities had names that were given by their founders but when the Israelites took them over they changed their names and changed their spirits. Kirjath-arba meant the 4 giants of demonic power. Hebron, its Hebrew name meant 4 giants of the faith: Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were 4 giants of the faith that were buried there. Where a person was buried was of utmost importance. I’ll explain that later when we talk about the cities of refuge. At this time this land was owned by the sons of Heth which means “terror”. Abraham asked them if he could buy a piece of their land to bury Sarah. The particular owner was Ephron who offered to give it to him. “Ephron” means “he of dust”. We are all of dust but when we are born again we are “of the spirit”. Ephron was unregenerated. Abraham knew not to take a gift from an infidel, or he would be forever indebted to him so he insisted on paying for it. It reminds me of when David wanted to buy the threshing floor from Obededom to make a sacrifice to God. He wanted to give it to David, but David said he could not offer God something that didn’t cost him something. Ephon finally told him that it was worth 400 shekels of silver. Abraham bought the cave of Mackpelah which means “a fold”. It became the burying place for many a patriarch and their wives - a sheep fold to hold the lambs of God’s family. Notice that Abraham did this transaction in the audience of all the people of Heth. This is why we deal with the devil “out loud”. Abraham was making a declaration that this was his land - cave, field, and trees were his and his family’s. He made it secure so that no one could retake it. Sadly, it is now owned by Muslim and has a mosque built over it. This is ground we need to take back.

Lord, let this remind us that it costs to take possession of the enemies ground but it is worth the fight.