ABRAHAM: FRIEND OF GOD – PART IV – THE LEGACY  

 SERIES OPENER

In a world ruled by fear and superstition, one man’s faith would shape history. Called to leave his past, he stepped into the unknown. Guided by a promise, his faith was stretched to its limits. A legacy was born that would shape generations and change the world.

This is the story of Abraham.

INTRODUCTION

 Abraham’s life has been marked by a call, a covenant and a promise. His journey has included divine encounters, daring adventures and unbelievable promises of a future, and now he stands at the threshold of his final chapter.

In these sunset years, Abraham continues to face struggles, loss and triumph as his focus now shifts towards leaving an enduring legacy. We’ll witness how family bonds are forged, how inheritance shapes destiny, and how divine promises are passed on for generations.

But this isn’t just the end of one man’s story – it’s the beginning of something far greater. Join us as we turn this final page in the life story of one known as ‘God’s friend’ and open a much larger story that reaches right down to our time and touches us all.

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DEATH OF SARAH

After the intense trial on Mount Moriah, where God tested Abraham’s faith with the near-sacrifice of Isaac, he returned home, likely feeling both weary and deeply grateful for God’s dramatic intervention. 

Not long after this life-changing event, Abraham received news that took him back to his past. Travelers from Mesopotamia brought word of his brother Nahor. Years earlier, Nahor had stayed behind while Abram, Lot, and their families journeyed south. In that time, Nahor had built a large family of his own.

This reconnection with his brother came at a time when Abraham was also thinking about the future of his own family. 

After some time in Beersheba, Abraham returned to the area today known as Hebron. Here, among the people who had known him for years, he and Sarah watched their miracle child Isaac grow into a man. 

Then, when Isaac was 37 years old, Abraham’s life changed dramatically, when his wife Sarah passed away at the age of 127. The loss of Sarah would have been a deeply emotional time for Abraham. 

They had shared childhood memories, grown into adulthood side by side, and by faith followed the call and stepped into God’s grand adventure together. Every triumph, every tear, every trial, every divine encounter – they had faced together.

Sarah had stood as the matriarch of God’s covenant people. A woman who dared to believe in impossible promises and whose laughter of doubt transformed into the laughter of joy and the birth of their promised son. 

Sarah’s importance is also highlighted by the fact that she is the only woman in the Bible whose age is recorded at her death.

Now, faced with the need to bury his beloved wife, Abraham sought a final resting place for her. Although God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants, he didn’t own any property there yet. 

PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY

So Abraham approached the sons of Heth to buy a burial site for Sarah. Now the sons of Heth were descendants of Noah’s great-grandson, who had settled in this area.

These early people, known in Genesis simply as the “sons of Heth,” were already part of a larger group establishing the foundations of what would become a mighty civilization referred to in the Bible as the Hittites.

The negotiations between Abraham and Ephron, one of these sons of Heth, gives us a fascinating look into ancient customs. In their law, land transactions came with certain rules and obligations, which play a big role in this story. 

Abraham went to the gate of the city, where important decisions were made, and introduced himself as a wandering foreigner, despite his known wealth and influence. He asked for a plot of land where he could bury his wife. The local people responded by recognizing Abraham as a “prince of God” and offered to let him use one of their finest tombs for her burial. 

But Abraham didn’t want to just borrow a grave, so he asked Ephron to sell him a specific cave called Machpelah, located at the edge of a field. Ephron’s response might seem surprisingly generous at first glance, offering not just the cave but the entire field.

Under local law, if someone sold only a portion of their land, they would still be responsible for paying taxes and serving the local rulers. So by selling the whole property, Ephron wasn’t just being generous, he was protecting himself from ongoing obligations. 

Then perhaps, too, Ephron was thinking of ancient superstitions about burial grounds. He may have been worried about the value of his remaining land if it was located too close to a burial site, which some ancient cultures considered unlucky.

ANCIENT DIPLOMACY

So, what followed was a masterclass in ancient diplomacy, where direct requests were wrapped in elegant phrases and generosity masked careful calculation.

Ephron makes an offer, 

“No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!” (Genesis 23:11)

Then Abraham responds, 

“If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.” (Genesis 23:13)

And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 

“My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So, bury your dead.” (Genesis 23:14,15)

A PIECE OF PROMISED LAND

When Abraham asked for the price, Ephron casually states 400 shekels of silver, the currency of merchants. Now, 400 shekels is a significant amount. Based on property values at the time, Abraham would have been buying about 120 acres of prime real estate. 

But Abraham didn’t hesitate. He weighed out the silver as it passed from his hands to Ephron’s. The transaction was significant. For the first time, Abraham owned a piece of the land God had promised his descendants!

The cave of Machpelah would become more than just Sarah’s resting place, it would become the cornerstone of the promise. Here, in this great cave, Abraham and his children’s children would eventually rest.

A WIFE FOR ISAAC

As Abraham mourned his wife, his thoughts turned from the past to the future, especially for his son, Isaac. God had promised that Isaac would inherit the covenant blessings, but for this to happen, Isaac would need a wife. 

In those days, marriages were usually arranged by families, and finding the right partner was crucial for maintaining family lines and alliances. 

Abraham knew that he didn’t want Isaac to marry a local woman because the Canaanites worshiped other gods. He wanted Isaac’s wife to not only share his life, but the faith and values he had taught in his household. 

So, Abraham summoned Eliezer, his most trusted servant, the man who had walked beside him through decades of struggles, triumph and trial. In choosing Eliezer for this sacred task, Abraham wasn’t merely sending a servant – he was entrusting his family’s future to a man who had become like a son to him.

ELIEZER RETURNS TO NAHOR

Abraham instructed Eliezer to go to the land of his birth, Mesopotamia, to Abraham’s relatives, to find a wife for Isaac among his own people. 

With servants and camels loaded with gifts for a dowry, Eliezer set off to the city of Nahor, a journey that would have taken over a month. He would have followed through some of the dry desert regions from Hebron as he made his way north and then joined the great ancient highway that wound through the valleys of the Fertile Crescent and took travellers northeast to the oasis town of Nahor.

Eliezer realised that he carried a great responsibility, but he also knew that the God of Abraham was with him. He arrived at a well outside the city in the late afternoon. In ancient times, wells were popular gathering places, and the late afternoon was when women typically came to draw water for their households.

In the cool of the evening, Eliezer prayed and asked for God’s guidance,

“Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’ – let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” (Genesis 24:13)

In this simple test, Eliezer sought a woman whose heart would mirror the generosity and faithfulness he had witnessed in Abraham’s household. His prayer wasn’t just about finding a bride; it was about discovering someone whose character would help carry God’s promises into the next generation.

REBEKAH CHOSEN

Before Eliezer even finished praying, a young woman named Rebekah approached. He asked her for a drink, and she responded kindly, offering water not only to him but also to his camels. Eliezer was amazed to see her fulfill the exact sign he had prayed for. 

Rebekah revealed she was the daughter of Bethuel and granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Eliezer then gave Rebekah two gold bracelets and a ring, symbolizing his belief that she was the one chosen by God. 

He then asked her about her family and if he might stay at her [father’s] house. She offered him a place to stay for himself, his men and his camels.  Grateful, Eliezer offered a prayer of thanks for the success of his mission. 

Rebekah ran towards home and was met by her brother Laban. Seeing the jewellery, he returned back to the well and welcomed Eliezer to stay with them. 

At Bethuel’s home, Eliezer met with Rebekah’s father. Before eating, he shared the whole story of his journey and how God had led him to Rebekah, emphasizing the guidance he had received. He introduced himself simply as “Abraham’s servant,” which seemed to be enough, since Bethuel and Laban knew of Abraham.

Eliezer explained that Isaac was born when Sarah was old, suggesting he was young enough for Rebekah to marry. At the end of his story, he presented the marriage proposal, asking if Rebekah would come back with him to marry Isaac. 

ISAAC AND REBEKAH MARRY

Bethuel and Laban replied, 

“The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.”  (Genesis 24:5)

Rebekah, along with her maidservants, left with Eliezer and his men. The return journey to Hebron was long and tiresome. The sun was hot, the dust swirled around them and the days were long. 

But there was a sense of excitement in the small travelling party, as the young bride-to-be left her family and childhood home as she headed to a new land, a new home, and a new life.

As the group neared Abraham’s camp, she saw Isaac walking and praying in the fields. He looked up, and their eyes met. The moment was both tender and meaningful.

Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, making it her new home, as they were married. Their marriage was a great celebration for Abraham and his extended family. It marked a new chapter in the unfolding story of God’s promises.

ABRAHAM’S STORY CONTINUES

But Abraham’s story wasn’t over yet. At 140 years of age, soon after Isaac’s marriage, Abraham took another wife, who brought him companionship in his later years, though nothing could replace Sarah in his heart. This new wife, Keturah, bore Abraham six sons during the last 35 years of his life. 

Another joy in Abraham’s later years was the birth of his grandsons, Jacob and Esau. For 20 years, Isaac and Rebekah had no children, but then one day, Isaac prayed that God would heal Rebekah’s infertility, and God answered his prayer and twin sons, Esau and Jacob were born. 

Abraham’s descendants went on to become nations, fulfilling God’s promise. Although Ishmael, his eldest son, was not the child of the covenant promise, God provided for and blessed him, making him the ancestor of many nations. 

Ishmael had twelve sons who lived in the Arabian wilderness east of Canaan. Abraham also sent his children with Keturah to live in this region alongside their relatives.

Ancient texts from Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and even Rome mention these nations. The Bible calls these tribes the “Children of the East.”

The children of Abraham’s nephew Lot, became the nations of the Moabites and Ammonites, who lived east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. 

One of Isaac’s sons, Esau became the father of the Edomites, who would settle in the hill country in the area around Petra in the nation of Jordan today. Although Esau was the firstborn, he sold his birthright for a meal.

VISIONS OF A PROMISED MESSIAH

So, the Covenant promise would continue through Isaac to his son, Jacob.  As Jacob grew in his faith, God would give him a new name: Israel. 

The Covenant was then spread through Israel’s 12 sons, who became the heads of the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel. Abraham’s descendants through Israel included heroes of the Bible— Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Elijah, Daniel, Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah. 

Yet one would rise greater than all of them, bringing the full blessings of God. This was the promised Messiah. The message of the Hebrew scriptures and its prophecies pointed to the coming of someone unique, someone special who could offer hope, peace and security to all people everywhere, no matter what their creed, race or nationality – a Saviour.

Abraham saw this future hope of the Messiah. In the call to leave Ur and Haran, he recognised the call we all face to come out of darkness. In his meeting with Melchizedek, he perceived the reality of a heavenly Priest-King. 

In the Covenant, he understood that God was not just promising him Canaan, but ultimately the whole world and a heavenly home. Through the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah, God revealed to Abraham that one day all corruption and injustice would be vanquished. 

And on Mount Moriah, he had come to see the sacrifice God would make in substitution for the death that sin had brought upon mankind. He saw that God would see himself as the Sacrifice.

GOD OF THE LIVING

Passing to his grave, Abraham knew this was not the end. One day he would rise again. When introducing Himself to Moses, God says, 

“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (Exodus 3:6) 

In responding to a question about the resurrection, Jesus Himself pointed to this identification as guaranteeing the resurrection because, 

“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”  (Mark 12:27)

So, the promise was that Abraham would one day be raised to life, along with all his spiritual descendants, to inherit the new earth.  

Abraham was not promised a family based only on blood lines. Through Abraham all families on earth would be able to be blessed. All through the Bible and history we see people of other nations being welcomed into this family. 

A FAR BIGGER CALLING

After Jesus, the promised Messiah’s death and resurrection fulfilled the Covenant with Abraham. It provided a way forward for all who believe as Abraham did. This opened up and extended the invitation to be part of God’s family in a much larger way, as it had always been intended.  

It’s amazing to consider that all this happened because of one man, Abraham. A man who dared to leave behind a pagan past, overcome the trials and pitfalls of the present, and was even ready to give up his expectations of the future. 

All for a God Who called him to a life of Promise. Known to his peers as a Prince of God, he was known to God simply as His friend. All who claim their identity as sons and daughters of Abraham and Sarah are invited into the same calling for adventure, promise and blessing, and the same friendship with God.  

AN ENDURING LEGACY

As Abraham nears the end of his life, he no doubt reminisced over the past and considered God’s leading in his life and the legacy he would leave behind. Perhaps he recalled standing on the rooftops of ancient Ur, a city gleaming with ziggurats and the bustle of marketplaces, when he heard God’s call. And with those words, one of history’s greatest adventures of faith began.

Abraham packed his belongings, gathered his household, and walked off into the wilderness. His wife Sarah, beautiful and strong-willed, followed this seemingly impossible dream with him. Together they become wanderers, their wealth measured in camels and sheep.

God promised them descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. But years passed without a child. Human patience frayed. Sarah offered her servant Hagar as a solution, and soon Ishmael was born – but this wasn’t God’s full answer. More years slipped by until finally, impossibly, laughter erupted in their tent. Sarah bears Isaac in her old age, just as God had promised.

NO  SMOOTH JOURNEY

Yet the journey wasn’t smooth. Abraham faced famines and feuds, navigated tricky alliances with kings, met the high priest Melchizek, and rescued his nephew Lot from war. His faith stumbled at times – he passed Sarah off as his sister, not once but twice, to Egypt’s Pharoah and then to King Abimelech, when fear momentarily overwhelmed him. But each failure became a stepping stone to stronger faith.

Then came the ultimate test: God said, 

“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and sacrifice him.” (Genesis 22:2)

On Mount Moriah, Abraham’s heart split between love and obedience, until God provided a ram in the thicket. 

In his twilight years, Abraham buried his beloved Sarah in the cave of Machpelah. He arranged Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah, ensuring God’s promises would continue into the next generation. 

DEATH OF ABRAHAM

Sometimes the greatest adventures begin with a single step of faith into the unknown. After a life rich with adventure, love, miracles, and a close relationship with God, Abraham peacefully passed away at the age of 175. 

Nearly 100 years before, God had promised Abraham, 

“As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.” (Genesis 15:15)

 True to His word, God fulfilled every promise He made to Abraham.

Isaac and Ishmael came together to lay their father Abraham to rest beside Sarah, his beloved wife. Abraham’s final resting place was on the land he had purchased from the sons of Heth. It was the only land he ever owned in the country promised to his descendants. 

And here’s the miracle: his story didn’t just end in a cave in Hebron. Today the site of the Cave of Machpelah remains important in three great world religions, the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths.

And this is Abraham’s legacy – it lies not just in the stones of Machpelah or the sands of Canaan, but rather in every heart that dares to trust in God. Abraham’s legacy is found in the heart of every person that steps out into the unknown on nothing more than a promise and a prayer to follow God’s leading. 

For in the end, Abraham wasn’t just the father of nations – he became the father of faith itself, showing us all what it means to walk with God and be His friend.

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If you’ve enjoyed our journey with the patriarch Abraham, and our reflections on how faith and trust in God can change our lives and bring us happiness and fulfilment, then be sure to join us again next week when we will share another of life’s journeys together. Until then, let’s pray to the God of Abraham.Dear Heavenly Father. We thank you for the life of Abraham, the man of faith and the friend of God. We pray that we too, will follow your leading in our lives. Please bless us and our families. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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