Abraham's Purchase of the Cave of Machpelah for a Burying-Ground

    Why was Abraham so solicitous to have a burying-place in Canaan by purchase? Was not the country all his own by promise? Why does he not bury in it, as he had lived in it, relying on the word of the Most High? Did he fear that, without purchase, the bones of his relatives would be disinterred? Did he trust the Lord with respect to the possession of the whole country by his posterity; and fear with respect to the spot where he and his wife should lie? Why did he not at least accept the generous offer of the people, and bury in

    some one of the chief of their sepulchres? If this was not sufficient, why did he not accept the offer of Ephron, and take the field as a gift? Did not Ephron propose to give it legally, in full right, for nothing? Was it the pride of independence that prevented him from receiving the possession as a 'gift? This would have been unworthy of Abraham; and at other times he freely received what was bestowed. He scrupled not to receive the gifts of Abimelech, king of Gerar. Yet all the politeness and noble generosity of the son of Heth could not prevail with the Patriarch, nor induce him to depart from his resolution. Purchase, purchase, purchase; nothing but purchase. He still insists on giving what the thing is worth, in the current money of the merchant. I cannot say what was in the mind of Abraham; but I have no doubt as to what was the intention of Providence, who overruled in this matter. The heavenly Canaan is, to the heirs of promise, most entirely a free gift, yet it cost the Saviour full price. A figure of this, then, the Spirit of inspiration gives us in this affair. Abraham received the land of Canaan by promise; yet, to show that our salvation cost the Saviour full price, the Patriarch, in Divine Providence, is led to the possession of a burying-place in Canaan by purchase. Abraham would not accept the ground on any other terms than paying the full amount of its value. Some persons, under a profession of Christianity, are now beginning to discover that the death of Christ was not truly a price. Such a sentiment finds no support, either in the doctrines of the New Testament, or in the types of the Old. Redeemed sinners have in Christ paid all that justice could demand.