ABRAHAM

75
sin is death . . .”
Cemeteries around the world are a testimony that Satan was lying when he said to Eve, “thou shalt
not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4).
When we turn the pages of God’s infallible word to Genesis 5, we hear the chorus of verses
recording again and again, “and he died.” Believe the word of God. Sin and death are a reality, but
we praise God that the reality of life in Christ is equally true. “. . . but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b).
C. THE FAMILY’S GRIEF OVER SARAH. “Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and
to weep for her.” (Genesis 23:2b).
1. THE SCENE OF MOURNING.
The is no question about the sincerity of Abraham’s grief. He goes to her tent and falls before the
body of his wife. One thing for certain about their relationship, Abraham’s love and devotion to
Sarah have never been in doubt. They had spent 70, 80, maybe even 90 years together as husband
th
and wife. Think of that, what do you get someone on their 90 wedding anniversary?
He openly mourns over the death of his wife. He weeps at the loss of his lifelong companion. There
is nothing unmanly here. There is no wrong in this.
2. THE SANCTITY OF MOURNING.
Mourning over tragedy or the loss of a loved one is natural and right. In fact it is needed to release
all the emotion and pain.
We find examples in the Bible of God’s approval of grief.
a. JESUS WEPT AT THE TOMB OF LAZARUS.
b. PAUL EXPRESSES HOW HE WOULD HAVE SORROWED IF
EPAPHRODITUS DIED.
Philippians 2:27
“For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only,
but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”
POINT TO REMEMBER: there is a tremendous difference in Abraham’s grief for this saved loved
one; and the hopeless grief for the lost. When Paul wrote to encourage the believers in the local
church at Thessalonica concerning those, who had died in Christ he revealed to them that their
sorrow was different from the sorrow of the lost. “ye sorrow not as others who have no hope.” (1
Thessalonians 4:13).
Friends, we grieve over the home-going of a saved loved one, but we have the blessed hope that we
will have a wonderful reunion day ahead in glory.