.jpg)
Mourning over Sarah
So Sarah died. -Genesis 23:2 (NKJV)
If you've ever experienced the death of a loved one, you know how powerful the emotion of grief is. You can also understand what Isaac was going through when his mother, Sarah, died. He was suddenly left alone with the grief that follows in death's wake. Grief is something that all of us are touched by sooner or later; it's simply part and parcel with the human experience, and we shouldn't rush to find a "quick fix" for it (Ecclesiastes 3:4). But there is a right way to grieve, and Isaac shows us how to do this.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening. (Genesis 24:63 NKJV)
In the midst of his mourning, we find Isaac meditating. The word meditate means to rehearse or go over a matter. It means to deliberately ponder and reflect on something. The Bible is clear that Isaac was meditating on God during this time, and the phrase "in the evening" implies that this was a regular practice for him. Through consistently reflecting upon God, Isaac was maintaining his relationship with Him, even during this time of grief.
The key to grappling with grief is to do as Isaac did and maintain continual communion with the Lord by meditating upon Him. If we don't focus on Jesus as we grieve, this emotion can quickly become a portal that will lead to guilt, bitterness, or even depression. But look what happened as Isaac meditated on the Lord.
He lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel .... Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. (Genesis 24:63-67 NKJV)
Notice that it was in Isaac's time of meditation that he also discovered the Lord's provision for his grief. When we're faced with the loss of a loved one and the time comes for us to grapple with grief, we, too, will find God's provision of comfort as we set the time aside to meditate on Him.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4 NKJV)
Discuss, Dig, Decide
Discuss the process of mourning. How have you handled grief in the past? What did you learn from your season of sorrow?
Dig into Genesis Chapters 23 and 24. How do you see Abraham honoring his wife in his season of grief? What is significant about verse 9? What lessons can you learn from this account?
Decide how you and your group can you use this understanding of grief to help others who are going through the loss of a loved one. Reach out to someone you know who has recently lost a close friend or family member. Encourage them through this season of grief.
