Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. Genesis 25:8
My parents had a little newspaper clipping they used to show people, an account of a gathering of the men in the community to help with the threshing of the oats on our farm. The newspaper account related that, among the large threshing crew were five men who were all over 85 years of age. These old men undoubtedly let the younger men do most of the work, but they were there, enjoying a day of companionship and participation, and also enjoying the fact that, at their advanced years, they could still show up for a day of threshing. Farmers all, these old men were healthy and strong all their lives; they lived in a good community where they were all respected; and they all had raised families that were carrying on the work of running their farms. They were much like Abraham, having lived worthwhile lives and eventually dying in the midst of those who loved them.
Our text describes the death of a great patriarch, but it does not have the ring of tragedy upon it. Abraham’s death was but the final chapter of a long and exciting life. Those who gathered for his funeral would surely have felt badly to lose such a great man from among them. But they would have also spent hours discussing Abraham’s exploits and personality. They had much to discuss, because few men who ever lived had accomplished so much or had affected so many. We could all wish that at the end of our days, we could be so sorely missed and deeply respected as Abraham.
The Bible tells us that Abraham’s greatest accomplishment was that he believed God. Because he believed God, he was accounted righteous. Because he believed God, he obeyed and became the father of the faithful. Everything that Abraham achieved was because of his belief in God. The more fully we believe in God and trust Him for everything in our lives, the more will our final end be like that of faithful Abraham. Abraham became rich, was deeply respected by all his neighbours, and raised up a wonderful heritage for the Lord. We might not become as rich as him in earthly goods, but we can surely obtain riches in spiritual things. We should strive for our faithfulness to God to be such that those around us will appreciate us. We should also strive, like Abraham, to raise up a godly heritage of spiritual children.
Apart from the rapture, we must all die. May we, like Abraham, do so in good old age and trusting in God’s faithfulness. -Jim MacIntosh