Genesis 25:1-34
Notes
Transcript
Genesis 25:1-34
Genesis 25:1-34
Last week, we were taken on a journey. Abraham sent his servant Eliezer on a mission to Ur of the Chaldeans, 450 miles one way, with the task to find a wife for Isaac.
Abraham wanted to make sure that Isaac didn’t take a wife from the Canaanites who surrounded them in the promised land. Abraham told his servant that the angel of the Lord would go before him and make sure he was successful.
What did this faithful servant do when he got to his destination? Before he saw anyone, he prayed specifically for the Lord to make it undeniably clear who this woman would be. Before he was even done praying, this woman came and he ran to her. And she ended up being the one.
One of the things I encouraged all of you to be mindful of, is, look for times when the Bible says the same thing twice. OR MORE. Those are times when the Lord is making a point, and in that chapter, there was a long recounting of the whole journey. It was intended to paint a picture of the church age today.
God the father has turned his kingdom over to the son. They invested in a servant to search in the far-off lands for a bride willing to return with them. In the return journey, there is fellowship, worship, and discipleship until the day when they are united. That is the task ahead of each of us, to go and tell the Bride of Christ about Jesus. Then to demonstrate your devotion to Him by completing the tasks He has set ahead of you.
Isaac took Rebekah into his mother’s tent, and from that point forward, she would be the matron of the family. Abraham, then, goes into a form of retirement as Isaac grows into the man of the family. This is where we start off today
1 Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Sarah had died, How old was Abraham at that time? He was 137 years old. How old was Abraham when he married this woman Keturah? Most commentators say about 140. Who was this woman? What do we know about her?
The name Keturah means “Incense, to make a sacrifice, or to cause to go up in smoke.” I would describe that as a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord. Aside from her name, and her giving Abraham 6 more children over the next 35 years, we know little else.
Something that some Jewish scholars teach is to keep an eye on where Isaac was where Eliezer comes to meet him. He’s in a place named Beer Lahai Roi, where he lived. This is the land that Hagar and Ishmael were sent into. These scholars believe that there was a simple name change to Keturah.
There is NO biblical evidence for this, and that would put Hagar way past the child bearing age too, over 60 years old. I don’t believe it, but I thought I would let you know where I stand on that fact.
This does NOT mean she’s not mentioned int he Bible again, how do we know that this is accurate? Well, this genealogy shows elsewhere in the Bible to ensure the accuracy of the Genesis account. Further bolstering the fact that we should take this foundational book at accurate. Let me read from there, as you follow along here on the screen:
1 Chronicles 1:32–33 “32 Now the sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan. 33 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.”
Do we recognize any of these names? Midian we will hear about again. Asshurim leads toward the Assyrian people. There are some other names that are obscure like Sheba and Dedan, but still familiar.
How many children did Abraham have? 8. Does the number 8 have significance in the Hebrew language? It is the number of redemption. The Seed of Abraham would be Jesus, the redeemer of the world. It’s not saying these children would all be a part of the promise, just that redemption comes thru Abraham.
5 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. 6 But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.
Isaac was the recipient of the kingdom. However, Abraham, like a good father, still gave gifts to the rest of his sons. That means he must have given things to Ishmael also. These new sons are the people living from Egypt to Somalia in Northern Africa.
Abraham gave generously to all of his kids. Just like all of us fathers should. It does something special too at the end of his life, we read about that here:
7 This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, 10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. 11 And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.
Ishmael was sent away with his mother. Banished for all intents and purposes, with just a skin of water and some bread. In the mean time, something must have happened to him. Both boys gave respects, together, to their father. If that relationship was broken, I don’t believe Ishmael would have come.
This is another thing that Jewish scholars point to Keturah possibly being Hagar with a name change, pointing out also that Isaac lived close to them there too. It’s an assumption, and again, no Biblical evidence for it, but you can see where they would draw that conclusion.
Abraham was 75 years when the Lord called him. That means 100 years of walking with the Lord until Abraham died. Abraham is called a “friend of God” in Isaiah 41:8 “8 “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.”
We’ve talked about this before, but what an amazing man to be able to be called a friend of God. Wouldn’t that be something special if the Lord thought that of us? Hmm...
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Just like God called Abraham His friend, Jesus calls those who obey His commandments his friends. If you put your trust in Him, and call Him Lord, He calls you His friend. Friends obey and take care of each other. They don’t take advantage of each other, they respect each other. They listen to each other. They have fellowship with each other.
Love is the greatest commandment. Love takes many forms.
This passage says Abraham lived a full life. Faith-full. And it says he was gathered to his people. This only used by Moses in the Pentateuch. It’s regarding the fact that there is an afterlife. He was gathered to his ancestors means that he was with those who died before him. Where he went was what the Old Testament would call Sheol. In the Luke 16, Jesus tells a story of the Rich Man ans Lazarus.
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Jesus describes there is a great chasm between Hades and Abraham’s Bosom. This means, there was a “good death” and a “bad death” prior to Jesus. It’s a concept that was well understood in Jewish culture. After Jesus Resurrection, Abraham’s bosom is not needed anymore. Heaven and Hell are what remain. God doesn’t send us to either, we choose where we end up. Changes need to happen to go to Heaven. The question is, are we willing to make them?
12 Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. 13 And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations.
Again, back to 1 Chronicles, they line up, so I would count them as accurate.
1 Chronicles 1:29–31 “29 These are their genealogies: The firstborn of Ishmael was Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.”
Just as the Lord promised Abraham, Ishmael had his 12 sons. These are the fathers of the arab nations. Abraham was told that Genesis 12:2–3 “2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””
Blessings can come from them too. BUT, the Lord doesn’t like it when His kids fight, especially when they are fighting with His chosen people. Look at what happens when arab people turn to Jesus. They pay an enormous price to turn from Islam. It’s worth it, though. Eternity is totally different for a Christian as opposed to a Muslim.
17 These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.
Havilah means desert, and Shur is at a junction of the garden of Eden. So that means that their land is the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, Quatar. He didn’t die in battle, but of old age and was ministered to by his family.
19 This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Here we go again. Sarah was barren for Abraham for 25 years. Why does the Lord to this? Why does He delay His plans for us? Isaac let Abraham almost sacrifice him. He was an adult when that happened. You would think, this kid has been thru enough! Cut him a break! No, they had to wait. Until when? Until Isaac was pleading with the Lord for children? NO, for his wife. He cried out to the Lord for her.
The Lord hears your prayers. Remember the time of waiting, struggling, worrying…and worship in those times. Remember to worship in the good times too. Always.
22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
I know ladies who have had twins. I can’t imagine having 1 baby, let alone multiple. I’m sure it feels sometimes like they’re at war inside you. With this being her first childbirth at 35? Maybe 38 years old? I’d be asking what is going on too! There’s no ultrasound, I don’t know how you’d know you were having 2 unless you were in childbirth. If any of you would like to enlighten me about that after the service, I’ll listen!
Why does the Lord keep referring to children as heads of nations? It’s because these kids have a long time ahead of them to have kids!
Here distinctively, the Lord says one people will be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger. It’s another generation that the Lord is showing that the things that are worldly indicators of power and might don’t mean anything to the Lord. Isaac was the firstborn of Sarah, but not the firstborn of Abraham.
God does what He wants, and one thing the Bible tells us over and over again, is He loves a good underdog story. Do you feel small, insignificant, alone? Do a spiritual inventory of what the Lord has given you. He can take those broken pieces and make something beautiful. You have to be willing to move when He says move, to talk when He says talk,and believe that you are the ONLY ONE in that situation that can make a difference. Saul was tall, handsome, outwardly had the appearance of a king, but the power went to his head. It was the boy David that the Philistines trembled before. Remember that.
24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
Esau means hairy. Jacob means “Heel catcher.” It also means decietful. Names mean a lot to the Hebrew people. It means a lot to my family, also. My oldest son’s name is Moses, and Moses had a sister named Miriam. We thought, we’ll name Moses’ sister, Moses’ sister. We didn’t look at what the name meant though…it means rebel. She’s on the cusp of becoming a teenager, I’m preparing for an uprising in my family.
We have a dog we lovingly named Renegade. We named her that because she had her own mind to do what she wants to do. Last week, part of the week some of you heard a little bit about, she tried to burn our house down. Earlier this week, we have been trying to crate train her and she broke out of the kennel we set up for her twice. Those of you who know, we have unique names for our animals. Our cats are Fathead, Lunch Box, Skinny Jeans, Durt, Business, and Widget. We have chickens, one named Moxxie, another we named Catchup, who ended up getting stuck in the chicken feeder, so that was funny, Catchup got stuck in the bottle…
What if you named your children how you felt about them? Our kids would be named things like “Big Mouth, Informer, disappointment, favorite, friendly, example, problem.” I’m so glad we don’t do this anymore. Those names get discretely tucked away in our minds. As these names come up, we, as parents try to work on those traits. Parenting is a big deal, and that’s why. Our kids need to know how to navigate their character traits. They will play a big role in who they are later. Train your children, it’s important! More about these 2 boys now:
27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Esau was a man’s man. Hunting, fishing, farming, camping. He’d get along just fine here, wouldn’t he? A man every dad would be proud of. That’s a man who will take care of his family, protect them, protect his family. The positive traits of a leader, right? Very capable, driven.
These traits, also, are very dangerous with a man who has no compassion.
As for Jacob, what makes him a mama’s boy? Let’s continue on and close out this chapter:
29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
While Esau was away hunting and gathering, Jacob was taking care of the house with Rebekah. That’s the assumption anyway. How many of you men can cook? I can. I’m pretty good at winging it. My kids would say I’m like Remy from Ratatouille. Dad, what does this need? I can look at a fridge and say “We can try this with these.” I got my kids who hate saurkraut to eat saurkraut the other day. It was amazing to know that I could out-wit them!
Esau is a man of action, he doesn’t care how, he wants it now, no matter the cost. Esau had worked all day and he must know there’s something special about Jacob’s cooking. Jacob begs for some of his red bean stew. That’s what the word Edom means, red, or ruddy man, horse, hiefer, garment, water, lintels. He’s really hungry and wants it bad. Jacob, living up to his name, deals shrewdly with him. Give me your inheritance. I want what you get from Isaac, one of the most powerful men in the area, wasn’t he? Abraham left him everything and HE WAS GREAT.
Was Esau going to die if he didn’t have the stew? It looks like not, he’d have been nursed to health, right? There would have been some type of montage where he’s getting his strength back, Jacob pounding the floor “Ya gotta get back out there, the food won’t catch itself!” There’s none of that. I think Esau knew what he was paying for his meal…but what did it cost him? The word despized used here is the word baw-zaw. It means he hated that he did this.
Hebrews extends on this point
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
Spoiler alert, Esau really regrets this decision. It seems so simple a proposition. I want some of your stew, here’s the price for it, well, that’s worth it to me because I want it so much, there is your stew, here is your payment.
His birthright was the keys to the kingdom. I don’t know that Rachel told Isaac what the Lord had told her at the beginning of this chapter, that the younger would rule over the elder. We’ll explore that in a few weeks. Jacob knew what he was doing, and what he wanted. He had his eyes on the prize all along. He wanted what Esau had coming to him, and he’d do anything to get it.
Why would God allow this. God is described thru out scripture as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and JACOB. This is underhanded…and it’s going to get worse, trust me. Like Abraham, it gives us hope that there’s a future for sinners like us, right? That this man is in the lineage of Jesus gives us all a semblance of hope.
Just under the surface of this story about Jacob and Esau, we see a deeper tale. Can you give me a word to describe the devil? What is a character trait of him? He’s a deceiver. Just like Jacob is in this situation, right? Let’s extrapolate that out…
Now, I’m not saying Jacob is the devil by any stretch of the imagination, but what is the meaning of this story to us today? We have an enemy that wants to take something from us. Something precious, that some of us, maybe even in this room today, don’t quite understand the concequences of eternally. There is a battle for our soul today. It’s a battle for our name, for our reputation, for our salvation.
Esau comes in from doing his thing, he’s done every day…work. He smells some of Jacob’s awesome stew and begs for some of it. Something to satisfy his wants. What does Jacob do? He doesn’t ask for something small in return, for a great sum of money…he asks for it all. I want your birthright. I want what is going to be given to you. He doesn’t just say “can I have it.” What does Jacob say?
31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
Sell it to me. The word is maw-kar which is also used in scripture to be described as selling oneself, or to be given over to death.
But I want this one, little, thing. We crave it, it calls to us. Who is it who can say “I can give it to you, all I’ll ask for is that you sell me your soul.” How often do we give in to our sinful desires knowing the path they are leading us is to more and more damnation.
Remember earlier, I put up a slide for Hebrews 12, let’s look at those verses again here, as I add the last verse of that phrase:
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Some people who claim to be Christians are going to go to hell knowing how to get to heaven. The call of the things of this world is STRONG.
Who is the king of this world? According to the Bible?
30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
These are the words of Jesus saying He is not the ruler of this world.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
This is the Apostle Paul talking about the god of this age, who is not Christ.
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Jesus is being tempted by the devil, in all ways we are tempted and he aknowledges HE has the power to give us the things of this world. Do you chase after it? Is the lust of your eyes overcoming you? Do your physical urges rule your decision making? Is the pride of your life, your stuff, your status what drives you?
Give in to the devil, and he will make all of those dreams and desires come true. Jacob said Genesis 25:31–34 “31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”
Esau could not contain his urges, he had no self control, and it cost him everything. Hebrews 12:17 “17 For you know that afterward, when Esau wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
There is a war for our soul, the battle is waged to and from the Cross. It’s a battle that was won ON THAT CROSS. The deciever is coming for you, every day, every moment. He rules down here, because we are too weak to deny ourselves.
Our inheritance hinges on a choice. Do we accept the gift of Christ freely, or do we reject it to fill our wants with the things of this world? Jesus doesn’t beckon to us. He’s not calling us. The devil is calling us. Jesus simply says “Come to me.” It’s not an easy road. It’s at that Cross where the war is won, but the battles continue. The devil wants you to pay for your disobedience to him.
I spoke last week about the fact that the Lord will not require my son’s life of me. The devil can, though. I will never take that lightly. I don’t fear the devil, because Jesus is in my heart. I know what he’s capeable of, though, and I know I’m not strong enough to withstand him all of my days without help.
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Jesus told Peter Luke 22:31-32
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Jesus prays for us. He is our Advocate when we are tempted, AND when we fall. It’s our job to get back up when we do. AND learn from that mistake. Every step needs to be a new step. We must armor up, knowing the devil is coming after us with the same tricks. He knows what lures us. One day at a time, fight the good fight of the faith. Finish the race. Don’t sell your place for eternity to fill any of your 5 senses. It’s not worth it. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. In Jesus you trust, or follow your lust.
