Life After Abraham
Notes
Transcript
Our journey in Genesis has reached a turning point. in recent weeks, we have been looking at the life and legacy of Abraham, but as we jump into Genesis 25, we see this chapter come to a close.
Ater Sarah passed away, Abraham too another wife and she bore him six additional children. According to Genesis 25:5, Isaac received everything Abraham owned. And then we see something interesting in verse 6… Abraham gave gifts to the “sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land in the east.”
Hmmm… Genesis just made clear that Abraham had other sons whose names are not mentioned through concubines whose names are not mentioned. And… before he dies, he sends them away.
First, lets be clear regarding the idea of multiple wives or relationships such as what is mentioned in verse 6. This kind of situation WAS NOT God’s intended plan for His creation.
Marriage, as defined in the days of creation, is to be between one man and one woman. Polygamy is never a favored form of marital relationship.
This verse is not given in support of Abraham’s relational structure in life, but rather it gives us insight as to how Abraham desired to protect what God had promised would happen through his son, Isaac.
Abraham was doing what he could to set Isaac up on the path that had been promised by God.
Scripture then says… Abraham died “at a good old age” at 175 years old.
Both Isaac and Ishmael bury their father in a familiar place - he is laid to rest in the same cave he purchased for his late wife, Sarah. The only piece of the promise land Abraham ever owned or called his own… was his own tomb.
But… the promise DID NOT die with Abraham. God’s promises are yes an amen. God STILL had a plan.
The rest of chapter 25 tells us what takes place in the aftermath of Abraham’s death. As we study this, we must also understand that this chapter covers a significant time span.
Ishmael’s Story
Ishmael’s Story
The first little bit we get is in regards to Ishmael.
Although Ishmael was not the son that God’s promise would be fulfilled through, Scripture gives us some insight regarding what what happened to Ishmael after the death of his father.
Ishmael has 12 sons and he lives to be 137 years old. And then we are given this bit of information:
18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.
We are not given specifics as to what this means… but to live in hostility is not a good way to be described.
Remember what God said of Ishmael when he was born? Genesis 16:12
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.”
Again, the Bible does not give much regarding Ishmael’s demeanor but we do see this description give of his offspring. Something was not right.
Quick thought: When we go against the promise of God… when we do things against the plan God has given us… we invite hostility and “wild” tendencies to take hold.
Going against God’s plan as Abraham did was a hostile act toward the Lord. Sarah and Abraham impulsively took control of the situation because of fear… Fearful action rarely ever results in peaceful turnouts.
We are reaping the consequences today for the months we spent allowing fear to govern this nation.
We were told that if you don’t social distance, you put others at risk… if you don’t wear a mask, if you don’t get the vaccine, if you go to large group gatherings… all of these things were driven by fear.
Those who were without masks, etc. were deemed to be the bad guys… people who did not care about the well-being of others.
Fear was in control. And now we are seeing the psychological and emotional effects it had on the younger generations.
Taking matters into our own hands is an act of hostility in our walk with the Lord and can produce wild results.
What does that word wild mean? It means not subject to restraint or regulation. Uncontrolled.
Another definition I found to be interesting was uninhabited. This refers to land where no one lives. But what about a heart that is uninhabited?
When we give our lives to Jesus, God’s Spirit moves in. But where His Spirit is not… a life is governed only by impulse, instinct, and other fleshly influences. The last we hear of Ishmael’s sons in Genesis 25 is in reference to their hostile relationship with tribes related to them.
Isaac’s Story
Isaac’s Story
The chapter then moves to Jacob and Esau who are the sons of Isaac. And we are familiar with this story that closes out the chapter.
Isaac has twin boys by birth, but these boys are night and day different in personality.
Anyone have any kids like this? Live in the same house, under the same influence of mom and dad, but they have completely different personality types?
Even before they were born, Rebekah knew something was up.
22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
God answers her with an interesting word.
23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.
From here.... things get really interesting. We don’t get much regarding their childhood but the Bible does give us a few insights.
For Esau...
He was the firstborn.
He was covered in hair.
He was red.
He was a skilful hunter.
He enjoyed the outdoors.
Isaac showed a bit of favor toward Esau.
He was… hungry
For Jacob...
When born, he was grasping Esau’s heel.
He was more of a homebody
He must have been a REALLY good cook
Was a master of deal making
Didn’t like living in the shadow of his brother
He had gained his mother’s favor
He knew how to push his brother’s buttons.
All of this information leads up to one catastrophic event for Esau.
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.
So… under the weight of his intense hunger and in the presence of his brother’s amazing stew, Esau surrendered his birthright to Jacob. Why is this significant? What was the birthright?
The birthright was very significant. It was the inheritance of the firstborn son. It consisted of three very important things:
One, spiritual leadership and becoming the head of the family.
Two, a double portion of the inheritance.
Three, the claim to the covenant blessing that God had promised to Abraham.
I can only imagine that Abraham shared with his son Isaac what God had promised him. I can only imagine that Isaac shared with his sons what God had promised his father. I am positive these boys were aware of what was at stake.
Which makes this deal even more heartbreaking.
One - Jacob longed for what Esau would receive. He wanted it for himself. He was willing to play his brother and manipulate him to give it up.
Two - Esau did not value what he had as Isaac’s firstborn. He sold it for a bowl of stew! WATCH THIS: He foolishly chose to trade future, long-term benefits for current momentary pleasure.
He was more concerned with his hungers pains than he was the benefit of his birthright.
Are we seeing the pattern?
Are we seeing the pattern?
First the Bible gives insight as to what happens with Ishmael
Abraham’s impulsive answer led to a wild and hostile future for Ishmael. This is what life outside the promise of God looks like.
Second the Bible gives insight as to what happens with Esau
Esau did not value the promise… similar to how Abraham took matters into his own hands. THEY BOTH OPERATED ON IMPULSE. The results are again disastrous. His future now looks completely different from what it should look like.
My point: Do not walk away from God’s promised future for a moment of impulse.
One simple action can cause an upset in what God has in store. Can God redeem the situation? Absolutely He can! But consequences still remain.
Perfect example is the Garden of Eden.
Adam and Eve sinned… they disobeyed the Lord.
God did not leave them in that pace of sin and made for them a new covering - atonement for their sin.
BUT… consequences still remained.
The were removed from the garden. They now lived under the curse of sin - pain, turmoil, death.
And… the brokenness would hit their home hard - they would lose a son at the hand of his brother.
Does this mean God’s redeeming power is flawed? No absolutely not. God’s forgiveness is true and thorough. Once forgiven, your sin no longer has mastery over you. However… there may exist very real world consequences.
We are forgiven through the blood of the lamb. We are carried through by the grace of God. God WILL help us in the days ahead so long as we remain in Him. But every time we take matters in our own hands… WE RISK FACING THE CHALLENGES THAT WILL COME AS A RESULT.
What we do today, will impact how we live tomorrow. So make sure what you do is what God has willed.
This goes with our lifestyle, our finances, our career moves, our family business… etc. Follow His plan. Experience His promise.