Genesis 23:12-20: a reflection

12Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. 13He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.” 14Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15“My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.” 16Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard. 17So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded 18to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. 20The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.

When Abraham seeks to buy a burial place for Sarah, the owner Ephron offers to give him the field freely; but Abraham insists on paying the full price. I will give the price of the field, he says; take it from me. And he weighs out the full four hundred shekels of silver, the price named, according to the current merchants' standard. Abraham would not take the field as a gift or seek to acquire it for less than its worth; he paid its full price, dealing honestly and fairly, taking no advantage. His integrity showed in his insistence on paying what the field was truly worth.

Notice Abraham's integrity in the transaction. Though offered the field freely, and though he might have haggled for a lower price, Abraham insisted on paying its full worth, weighing out the full amount named. He would not take advantage of the offer, nor acquire the field for less than it was worth; he dealt honestly and fairly, paying the full price. His integrity was shown not in grasping for a bargain or accepting an advantage, but in paying what was right and fair. He dealt with others honestly, giving full value, taking no advantage even when he could have. His integrity in a simple transaction reflected the honesty that marked his dealings.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too are called to integrity in our dealings, paying what is fair and taking no advantage. In our transactions and dealings, we can be tempted to grasp for every advantage, to pay less than something is worth, to take what we can get away with; but Abraham insisted on paying the full price, dealing honestly and fairly. Integrity in our dealings means giving full value, paying what is right, taking no unfair advantage. Do not grasp for every advantage in your dealings, paying less than what is fair or taking advantage where you can; deal with integrity, paying what is right, as Abraham weighed out the full price. Deal with integrity in your transactions, paying what is fair and taking no unfair advantage, as Abraham insisted on paying the full price for the field rather than taking it for less; for honesty and fairness in our dealings reflect integrity of heart, and it is better to pay what is right than to grasp for an advantage that is not ours to take.

Lord, when Abraham seeks to buy a burial place for Sarah, the owner Ephron offers to give him the field freely; but Abraham insists on paying the full price. I will give the price of the field, he says; take it from me. And he weighs out the full four hundred shekels of silver, the price named, according to the current merchants' standard. Abraham would not take the field as a gift or seek to acquire it for less than its worth; he paid its full price, dealing honestly and fairly, taking no advantage. Show me Abraham's integrity in the transaction. Though offered the field freely, and though he might have haggled for a lower price, Abraham insisted on paying its full worth. He would not take advantage of the offer, nor acquire the field for less than it was worth; he dealt honestly and fairly. His integrity was shown not in grasping for a bargain or accepting an advantage, but in paying what was right and fair. He dealt with others honestly, giving full value, taking no advantage even when he could have. Take that to my heart, for I too am called to integrity in my dealings, paying what is fair and taking no advantage. In my transactions and dealings, I can be tempted to grasp for every advantage, to pay less than something is worth, to take what I can get away with; but Abraham insisted on paying the full price. Integrity in my dealings means giving full value, paying what is right, taking no unfair advantage. Keep me from grasping for every advantage in my dealings, paying less than what is fair or taking advantage where I can; help me deal with integrity, Lord, paying what is right, as Abraham weighed out the full price for the field.