Abraham passed the greatest test of faith when he was willing to obey God’s instruction to sacrifice his son Isaac. But yesterday’s victory does not guarantee today’s. Continued obedience is required when more tests come.

At 127 years of age, Sarah died. Abraham, after mourning for her, wanted to buy a piece of land in Hebron (in the land of promise) from the sons of Heth as a burial place. He did not choose to bury her at Ur of the Chaldees where they came from because of his unwavering faith in God who had promised that Canaan would be home for him and his descendants.

To the Hittites, Abraham called himself “a stranger and a sojourner” (Gen 23:4). A “stranger” refers to a non-citizen. A “sojourner” refers to a non-citizen who lives in a country. Hence, Abraham saw himself as staying in the land but not part of the land. He was a foreign resident. He did not live according to the lifestyle of the idolatrous residents despite having lived there for 62 years. Although the sons of Heth regarded him as “a mighty prince” (Gen 23:6), he did not identify himself with them because of his faith in God.

His unwavering faith is also seen in how he negotiated for a piece of land. Although the sons of Heth were prepared to give him a piece of land free of charge, he humbly insisted on paying for it. He showed his humility when he“stood up and bowed” (Gen 23:7) to them, and requested to buy “the cave of Machpelah” (Gen 23:9). His insistence to pay was due to his faith in God. As God had promised him the land, he wanted the Hittites to be clear that he and his descendants would be the rightful owners, and that there would not be any contention in the future, with the Hittites witnessing the sale/purchase transaction.

We too are strangers and sojourners on earth. We are in the world but we are not of it. Like Abraham, we too have a spiritual mission. His was to occupy the land of promise. For us, we are to be the light of this world, shining the gospel truth wherever God places us – at home, work, in school. We are to give of our best to God (not for self) wherever we are. Anything that is of self will be our idol. We are to please Him and draw nearer to Him. Others then can see Christ through us, from our character and our attitude. The devil, like “a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). We must remind ourselves and others that we are strangers and sojourners on earth, fulfiling our spiritual mission as a church, as a family and as individuals as we journey to our heavenly Home.