I’m not sure how many funerals I have conducted over the years, but they are always unique, even if the ceremony is the same. That’s obviously because we are all different.
When I read these next few verses, I at first skipped past something that caught my eye the second time. It was the occasion of the funeral of Abraham.
“Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.” (Genesis 25 v 7-11)
Ishmael, the eldest son of Abraham (but the son of Hagar and not of Sarah), was with Isaac, the promised son, born to Sarah in her old age.
It may have been some time since they had been together. Isn’t that the case even today? We have no record of whether they had seen each other in the intervening years.
Isaac was the heir to the covenant given to Abraham, and Ishmael became the father of twelve rulers. They live separate lives with separate families, but on the occasion of their father’s death, they stand together to bury him. Death had brought them back together. Grief over their father was the uniting factor.
Maybe they had so many differences, one being their age, that they would never be walking together in life. But they each shared a love for their father. They both would carry something of his image and standing at the cave of Machpelah were two sons in grief. Well, we don’t know the extent of that grief, so I am presuming there were tears; maybe they both gave eulogies? Did they embrace? This certainly wasn’t a 30-minute crematorium slot. This funeral would have lasted a while and would have taken time to work it all out together.
But that is the word, isn’t it? Even if it was the very last time. They were together.
It is never too late to stand together with your brother, sister, parent, child, etc. It is never too late to call that friend. You see, they, too, despite your many differences are made in the image of God, just like we all are.
It’s never too late to come together. Even at a grave side.
Missions Paul 