Subject: Power - Genesis 20-23

Genesis 23:8-12 (ESV Strong's)

And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar,
that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”

Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city,
“No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”
Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.

Subject:  Power

The above verses are taken from the passage in Genesis 23 that concerns Abraham buying a tomb to bury Sarah, who died at the age of 127.   Abraham wants to honor Sarah and, at the same time, wants to make sure he does so by "buying" a tomb, rather than using his power to obtain it.   Abraham could have used the power he had over the group to obtained the tomb for no cost.   That would, however, not have honored Sarah (a free grave is not honoring since it costs you nothing).   It also would not be honoring to God.  God had given Abraham the power he had.  It was not to be abused.  Just because you have power does not mean you have to abuse others with your position.   Proverbs say a rich man has many friends:

Proverbs 14:20 (ESV Strong's)
 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

Abraham did not abuse that position of wealth, that attracts many friends.   We need to be aware of those who use their wealth in a poor manner for their own profit and gain.   Notice in the above text that even after the man who owned the tomb Abraham wanted offered to give it to him, Abraham "bowed down before the people of the land."   His humility in power is a picture of Christ.  Christ had all the power, but He laid his life down for man-kind.  That is the ultimate use of power.  Laying it down for others.