Unholy Alliances

Genesis 23:12: "Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land and he said to Ephron in their hearing, "Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there."

This is an interesting passage about the account of Sarah's death. From the story it seems that Abraham was staying in Beersheba whereas Sarah his wife was in Kiriath Arba (Hebron) in Canaan. When Abraham learned of his wife's death, he went to mourn her loss. The Hittites were the people of the land and they insisted that they give Abraham land there to bury Sarah. Abraham responded on several occasions that he purchase the land outright and not receive the land as a gift. At first glance, it seems that Abraham was treating these people's generosity with contempt; however, we know that the Hittites were an evil people who did not serve the Lord. Abraham knew that his taking of this land would only give these pagans license to expect favors in return. He also knew that with these close associations with these peoples, he only increased his chances of turning away from the Lord (I Cor. 15:33).

So how can we apply this passage of Scripture to our lives? First, we must understand that we are not to set ourselves up for rebellion against the LORD through intimate associations with pagans who do not follow the LORD. We are certainly called by God to live in the world; still, we have been instructed by the LORD that we have been "chosen out of the world (and thus) do not belong to the world" (John 15:18-19). Unholy alliances with people who do not have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will lead the believer down a slippery slope to rebellion as well. Make wise decisions when it comes to those with whom you associate. Be the reflective light of Christ to a darkened world, but do not let your light lose its intensity of illumination through inappropriate associations.