Dealing With A Death Of A Loved One Series

The first mention of a burial in the Bible is found in Genesis 23.

It was the burial of Sarah. Remember Sarah?

Here’s what we read in Genesis 17:15-16, God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."

In 1 Peter 3:1-6 we read, Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Abraham was blessed to have Sarah as a wife!

Abraham loved Sarah! Sarah died before Abraham.

How do you deal with the death of a loved one?

Let us learn from God as we read the story of how Abraham dealt with Sarah’s death. Let us read Genesis 23….

Sarah lived 127 years. Why did Abraham mourn and weep for Sarah??

1. Abraham loved Sarah; and,

2. There was the sadness of the physical separation.

Do you know how long Abraham and Sarah were married before she died??

For over 62 years (maybe even over 100 years), Abraham and Sarah stayed together as husband and wife. Abraham loved Sarah because, in spite of the ups and downs in their marriage, they learned and grew together as a couple. How did Abraham and Sarah mature and persevered in their relationship? What have we learned from previous chapters in Genesis?

Were Abraham and Sarah perfect??

The first thing to realize to grow a relationship is this;

1. Your partner will make mistakes!

Abraham and Sarah accepted each other’s shortcomings as they matured in their marriage.

But do you really think Abraham and Sarah were able to work on their marriage on their own?

Abraham could have left Sarah and went with Hagar and Ishmael, whom Abraham loved! Remember how Sarah was a nag during that time?

Of course none of our wives here would ever do that!

Now guys, on the other hand, Sarah was beautiful and could have lived the good life with the Kings!

For selfish reasons, Abraham asked her to lie and say she was his sister! Of course, no husband here would do something like that today, right? But why are some noses getting longer?

Here’s the point, Abraham and Sarah would have been total failures without the intervention of God and their obedience to God.

The second thing to realize to grow a relationship is this;

2. Allow God to direct your relationship.

And of course, as we read from 1 Peter 3, the third thing to realize to grow a relationship is this:

3. Be responsible to your personal calling from God.

Sarah was called by God to be submissive to her husband. And we read in 1 Peter 3:7-10, Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Now, many husbands love this passage because they would cite that women are “weaker partners”. Again, here’s where many of us mess up; we have a tendency to look down on others and neglect our specific personal responsibilities!

Guys, the way to read this passage is to circle those things that we are to be responsible for: be considerate, treat wives with respect, be sympathetic, be compassionate and humble, don’t repay evil or insults with evil and insults but with blessings!

How are we doing with these things?

Abraham, Sarah, and all Christians are called by God to love one another, especially husband and wife.