FAITH CAPSULE: A reasonable sacrifice is in steadfast obedience.
Genesis 23
Moses knows the ways of God more than any among the children of Israel. The Bible testifies, “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.” (Psalm 103:7) Indeed, Moses knew the ways of God more than the children of Israel when he was leading them to possess God’s Promised Land. Once, Moses was admonished the Israelites about loving God and keeping His commandments always when he stated, “Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess.” (Deuteronomy 11:8) To possess God’s promise demands positioning self in line of God’s command with full obedience. Possessing God’s promise demands no compromise but commitment. The Israelites must keep the commandment because it is the source of strength. Obeying God’s command is what will keep man going in the journey of life. Obedience to the word of God is a sacrifice. A reasonable sacrifice is in steadfast obedience.
In life, there is no possession, without sacrifice. This is to say that, behind every gained possession, there is a reasonable sacrifice invested. Sacrifice might happen in different ways, but sacrifice is inevitable before rightfully possessing.
Before Abraham could possess his land of choice he paid a price. After Sarah’s death, Abraham needed land to bury Sarah. Abraham requested a land from the sons of Heth to bury his wife. The sons of Heth responded to Abraham, “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.” (Genesis 23:6) Abraham insisted and requested for the price to be paid. Abraham got a quoted price for the land to bury his wife. It is written in Genesis 23:17-18, “So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.”” The land did not become Abraham’s possession until he paid a reasonable sacrifice (price). Every reasonable sacrifice is costly, and could be in different forms. Also, obeying the commandment is a sacrifice because it will take man out of his way into God’s way.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to give a reasonable sacrifice which grants grace to possess all possessions.