Our years are short, but our lives are significant in God’s plan.

In Genesis 23, we are told that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, died at the age of 127. That’s more years than many people have on this earth, but in comparison to the plan of God, 127 years is almost too short to mention. However, from the life and death of Sarah and the decisions of Abraham, we see that no one’s life is insignificant in the plan of God. What we do in the short time we have on earth, the decisions we make, reveal the nature of our faith in God and will have ramifications that are eternal.

This is a sermon from Genesis 23:1-20, and below you will find the video recording, text of Scripture, and a sermon outline to help you along as you watch. I hope this study tool helps you grow in your love for the Lord Jesus and in your obedience to Him.

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Sermon Title: “A Small Part in a Big Plan”

Text: Genesis 23:1-20
“(1) 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.” (5) The Hittites answered Abraham, (6) “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” (7) Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. (8) And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, (9) that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”
(10) Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, (11) “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” (12) Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. (13) And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” (14) Ephron answered Abraham, (15) “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” (16) Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.
(17) So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over (18) to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
(19) After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. (20) The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.”

Single Sentence Sermon Summary: You life is part of God’s purpose and plan, and your actions will reveal your faith in Him.

Sermon Structure: “A Small Part in a Big Plan”
Genesis 23:1-20

--vs.1-2—The death and mourning of Sarah

**Truth #1: Your years are short, but your life is significant in God’s plan.

--vs.3-18—The purchase of the burial plot

--vs.19-20—The burial of Sarah in the cave of Machpelah

**Truth #2: Your actions in the present reveal your faith in the future fulfillment of God’s promises.