Genesis 23 begins with Abraham grieving the death of Sarah and then negotiating with the Hittites for a place to bury her. Although God has already promised Abraham the land, Abraham does not use that promise as an excuse to demand what he believes is rightfully his. Instead, he approaches the people of the land with humility, respect, honesty, and integrity, ultimately paying the full price for the cave of Machpelah. Abraham shows us that faith is demonstrated not only in what we believe, but also in how we treat others. There are times when proving we are right can become less important than choosing to act righteously. Genesis 23 challenges us to ask not simply, “Am I right?” but, “Am I responding in a way that honors God?”
