Sarah dies at 127 years old. Abraham has to buy a burial plot from the Hittites—the only real estate he’ll ever own in Canaan. Four hundred shekels of silver for the cave of Machpelah. He negotiates carefully, publicly, legally. Why does this matter? Because Abraham is investing in the promise. He could have buried Sarah anywhere. Instead, he plants a stake in the ground. A grave in the promise. This cave will hold Sarah, then Abraham, then Isaac and Rebekah, then Jacob and Leah. The patriarchs were buried believing. They died in faith, not having received what was promised.

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