Dav Twelve..."Symbolism in a Land Purchase"

As I read Genesis, chapter 23, I wondered why an entire chapter was devoted to buying land for a burial site. Abraham intentionally bought the land in Canaan to bury Sarah in God's promised homeland. (Later, we will read about Jeremiah doing the same thing prior to exile) It was also a part of culture to be buried near the father. How about the story of Isaac and Rebekah? Who would have thought a relationship would begin by a drink of water and watering camels? Psalm 12 warns against a flattering tongue which lies and states by contrast the Lord's Word is like silver refined in a furnace of clay. Jesus gives lofty teaching in today's Matthew reading..."love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." Easy to read and challenging to do. Theological explanations of why evil people prosper and good people suffer are perplexing. Jesus does offer insight in the teaching "raining on the just and unjust." The complexities of life do not always have "pat" and "tidy" answers. Jesus challenges toward perfection at the end of chapter five... "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. I read this as strive to reach for God's standard. In stretching we grow... God's grace is sufficient in the gaps and when we fall short.