The Cave
Gen 49:30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place.
Jacob is buried in a cave though he lived in a culture where pyramids are erected and people buried with earthly treasures. The ways of God and the ways of the culture differ even in death. Quiet humility that typified Israel disdains the pyramids of Egypt and memorial statues and instead a poverty in spirit is the hall mark of the early fathers.
The cave is also a picture of a place of rest in the field of Machpelah. Now the cave is concealed by a mosque; this was formerly a church, built by the Crusaders between 1167 and 1187. But we know that in the time of Christ, the graves opened and the patriarchs came out of this cave… and were briefly seen. Abraham who was given a vision of great lands died possessing only this field… and was still accomplished.
The cave and this field of rest pictures Heaven and eternity … the ultimate promised place which we cannot enter but through death or bodily transformation at the rapture. Comparing Heaven and Egypt is like comparing in the physical – pyramids with caves. The doors to God’s eternity are the humble and simple life for which earthly possessions count for nothing. Many of the saints do not have great memorials erected and we may have forgotten them because they made no effort to immortalize their names …but God has His roll of honor in the humble caves of eternity. May God reveal what it truly means to be humble. His humility is the door to His eternity. Jacob lived and died as a pilgrim. Many erected pyramids to eternalize their memory …only to be rejected from God’s eternity.
Song.
He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round with dismal stories
Do but themselves confound – his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,
He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end, shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim.
Prayer : O Lord, Help me not to be trapped in the lies of the heathen culture that surround me. Amen.
The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa
