Thursday 12 November, 2015
Genesis 25:1-11
25 Abraham had married another woman. Her name was Keturah. 2 She had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah by Abraham. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All of them were members of Keturah’s family line. 5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east. 7 Abraham lived a total of 175 years. 8 He took his last breath and died when he was very old. He had lived a very long time. Then he joined the members of his family who had already died. 9 Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him. They put his body in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite. 10 Abraham had bought the field from the Hittites. He was buried there with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac. At that time Isaac was living near Beer Lahai Roi.
Even though the passage shows that there were many other children to Abraham, I see the importance of this passage demonstrated in v5, “Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac”. This was not just wealth, but the passing on of the blessing and promise of God, which included the land. (This is also why Abraham sent his other sons to the east away from Isaac.)
God was continuing His promise through Isaac, a promise that was all part of His plan. Abraham demonstrated during his life that he was not infallible, and yet God remained true to His promise to Abraham. We will see then that Isaac also made mistakes, but God remained faithful to His purpose through them.
I am reminded personally from this passage of the faithfulness of God to me, and even when I fail Him and dare say at times, turn my back on Him, he remains forever faithful to me.
Father, help me to always know and trust in your faithfulness of me, and that when I fail you, you do not turn your face away from me, but rather draw closer to me, to restore me. Amen
Written by Steve Fell
Amen Steve, God’s faithfulness is the great constant, thanks for that reminder this morning.
So true Steve, thankgoodness he always uses us in spite of all our many weaknesses and failings. Wha a patient and loving Father.
Thanks Steve, it is encouraging to be reminded how faithful our God is to us!
Thanks Steve for helping me to focus on the promise.
When living in Indonesia we did a number of studies on the children of Ishmael, often attributed as the father of the Arabs. One of the studies was called “the children of the promise” because of various promises in the Bible to the children of Ishmael.
I had not noticed before, but just did notice that even though Abraham sent the other children away, it says that his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him.
Even though Isaac is the one who receives the blessing and thus has a different status, and has been better “looked after” by his inheritance, I see as I imagine the passage two siblings getting on quite well as they bury their dad. That does not describe the way their descendants are behaving in the Middle East now, other than there is a lot of burying going on.