THE FIELD OF MACHPELAH

Although ten years his junior, Sarah predeceased Abraham. Interestingly, she died in Hebron, Gen. 23. 2, meaning, associa­tion or fellowship. This woman died in fellowship with her God, and with her husband and with her only son who missed her dearly, 24. 67; she ‘died in faith’, Heb. 11. 13. In the circumstances of her burial, Abraham acted with princely dignity, v. 6, and with great integrity, v. 16. Significantly, the place of burial was ‘the cave of the field of Machpelah’, v. 19, a place where others in the family line would be laid to rest.

The meaning of the name ‘Machpelah’ gives us our picture. Basically, the Hebrew word means double, and it is suggested that this cave had two openings that we could interpret as an entrance and an exit. In other words, it implies the fact that although the believer’s body will be placed in the grave, one day there will be the re-emergence of that body in resurrection.

The fact that death is not final is enshrined in the metaphor of sleep, cf. Acts 7. 60. There is always an awakening out of sleep. The metaphor relates exclusively to the body for in verse 59 it says ‘receive my spirit’. The body alone sleeps; there is no sleep of the soul; it is ‘at home with the Lord’, 2 Cor. 5. 8 RV.

The occasion of this ‘way out’ of the grave will be the return of the Lord Jesus, and His resurrection guarantees ours: ‘Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming’, 1 Cor. 15. 23. Hundreds of witnesses attested the fact that He was alive from the grave, vv. 5-9. Because He rose, at His return there will be the immediate resurrection of His people; ‘the dead in Christ shall rise first’, 1 Thess. 4. 16.

In Hebron today, a massive building encloses the possible site of the burying place of the patriarchs. There, tensions run high between Jewish and Arab guards. However, the Saviour indicated that one day that cave will be vacated, for ‘ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob … in the kingdom of God’, Luke 13. 28. They will be raised to enter the earthly millennial king­dom of the Lord Jesus. Let the hope of resurrection encourage us all, but keep in mind, ‘We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed’! 1 Cor. 15. 51.