Genesis 23:19-20

So we see that Abraham purchased the field from Ephron.  The field was in Machpelah, literally translated “Portion”.  Interestingly the only portion of the Promised Land that God had allowed Abraham to actually own was the plot of land in which he buried his love and greatest desires.  As time would pass this area would become the place where his sons and daughters to follow would lay to rest as well. 

So too, the only thing we really possess, or the “Portion” we’ve been bestowed with here on earth is the free will to bury our ambitions and greatest desires safely into the hands of the author and perfector of our lives.  As we purpose our lives to be submitted to God’s will we will see that His blessings and promise will expand into the lives of our children and on and on it goes. 

As Abraham set that example and received the portion the trees of Mamre, translated “strength” became the place where God met and blessed Abraham’s children.  In the same way the places in which we bury our will and say, “Lord your will be done” are the places that God will bless and meet us, and as our children follow suite they will experience the same with the Lord.  What seemed like death to our greatest love and desires will become the launch pad for abundant and blessed life not only for us but for many to follow. 

Abraham didn’t fully see the fulfillment of God’s promise in his lifetime, but his kids did.  Because of his example and the way he laid all things to rest in the portion of the Lord, the generations to follow entered into the fulfillment of the Promised Land.  Listen up parents, as you obey the Lord and lay to rest your personal desires and ambitions, as you deeply invest into the Lord and the portion He’s given you, you’ll see that your children will follow suite and will receive the fulfilled promises and blessings. 

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Hebrews 11:13-16

Don’t be discouraged folks; God isn’t slack on His promises.  You might not see all of the fruit of your life here and now, perhaps your children will see the blessing where you had to experience the death; the wonderful truth is God has prepared something abundantly more wonderful in heaven.  As we are faithful to receive this portion and invest into it we will see the return for eternity.

“Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.””

Genesis 18:1-3

Abraham was hanging out in the shade of the terebinth trees while encamped in a place called Mamre, later to be known as Hebron (Genesis 13:18; 23:17). This area of the South (also called “Negev”) is known to get pretty hot during the day; the summer temperatures can reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Needless to say it’s not the weather you want to be working in, so it was common to do hard manual labor early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Abraham was a pretty smart guy so we find him pulling up some shade and cooling down, however he doesn’t chill out. Abraham was watching for God.

How do I know?

When Abraham notices three strangers roll up into camp he runs out into the heat and bows down in worship and says, “My Lord”. The word “Lord” that he uses here isn’t the polite phrase equal to our modern day “sir”, but is “adonay” actually the proper name of God only.

This brings to mind a challenging question for me. Am I as hungry and determined to watch, worship, and work to serve the Lord during my daily grind. If it was me in this situation I would have probably listed the reasons why I deserved to relax instead of run. Abraham probably had already put in a full day’s work, it was pretty stinking hot out, he was entitled to some R&R in the shade, besides he had plenty of servants to show some hospitality to the three guests, but that’s not Abraham’s heart. We see that even after all the reasons for excuse Abraham was still hungry enough to meet with God, to speak with Him, and to serve Him, he didn’t want to be passed by or miss out on anything.

I reckon we can learn something here.

You see, when we’ve worked a full day and we’re looking for some well deserved personal time, we desire to kick back and turn on the boob tube instead of kicking it up and opening the Word. We think of every excuse to cash in on entitlements instead of realizing that we’re missing out on the true treasure of personal time with God. God doesn’t want us during the commercial breaks, He wants our full attention!

When was the last time we hungered for God’s presence like Abraham, when we were exhausted and it was hot but we still burned with passion to run to the Lord instead of rest on our rear.

Does your recliner and remote see more use than your knees and the Word?

If you find the answer to be, “Yes” then I encourage you to take a look around like Abraham. You just might see the Lord has come to visit with you… don’t miss it!

Chances are you might find yourself more blessed, rested, and refreshed than what you would have received had you stayed in the shade.