When Death Reminds Us of the Promise

“Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. ² And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. ³ And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, ⁴ “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” — Genesis 23:1–4

As we come to the end of the story of Abraham and Sarah, the narrative begins with Sarah’s death. She is the only woman in the entire Bible whose age and death are recorded. Why? Because she stands as a woman of unparalleled significance — the matriarch of God’s people.

Read Genesis

As Eve was the mother of all living beings, Sarah is the mother of all God’s people. Despite her faults, she was a woman of faith, and is honoured as example for all those of faith to imitate. But yet despite her exalted position, death shows her no favour. This is the harsh reality of death, it does not care, it makes no distinction, it comes for you whenever it desires and none can escape it. Now Abraham must acquire a burial place for his bride, because she was once so beautiful in his sight, must now be hidden away to decay and rot in a cave.

Such a horrible ending for a woman of God, but yet death reveals the truth of what we are truly like. Without God and his grace, we are rotten, decaying, disgusting and nothing can cover that up. Sarah an example of faith but also a demonstration that even she Matriarch of God’s people cannot escape death.

As Christians we are not to be naive, death will come for us all, it is wise to live with this truth constantly before us. But yet there is hope, hope that Sarah shall not remain in that cave forever. All people even those most blessed and favoured by God must die because of their sin, but yet we know the sting of death has been taken away. No longer is it something to fear, because we have a God who is greater than death. A God who raised his son from the grave, to show us death will be no more.

Live as though death is around the corner, make the most of the days, but do not fear the end, it is the beginning of something far better.

Reflection:
What would change in your life if you lived each day remembering both the reality of death and the hope of resurrection?

Prayer:
Lord, teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom. Help me live with courage, hope, and faith — knowing that in Christ, death has lost its sting. Amen.