1. Our Ever-Present Discouragements: a. God's people are small (in number and status). Abram left Haran because of God's promise, which included that his descendants would be many. Now he hears that his brother has had many children (12) - Abraham has only one! b. God's people are sad. Abraham wept at the loss of Sarah, the miracle mother! Suffering, pain, sickness and death are all part of the experience of God's people. c. God's people are strangers. 2. Our All-Conquering Hope. Abraham gains - as a formally deeded possession - property in the land that, in over 400 years time, his descendants will inherit. Why does Abraham want to bury Sarah in this way? This is the first mention of burial in Genesis. Because he believed God's promises of the restoration of fellowship between man and God. He buried Sarah in sure and certain hope of the fulfilment of all God's promises, including resurrection.