Life Lessons from Abraham

Text: Genesis 25:7-11

Introduction

NOTE: “Abram” is used 61x in the Scriptures. “Abraham” is used 250x in the Scriptures.

These verses call attention to the life and death of the old patriarch of the faith, Abraham. These verses should be not only read but meditated upon because there is much truth to be observed and learn from this biblical summary of Abraham’s life.

There are two sons, and both are sons of godly Abraham. Both were raised in the same home. Both saw the blessings and protections of God. Both were partakers of God’s blessings upon Abraham. These two boys could honestly call their dad “Father Abraham.” Their father had died, and they showed their respects by planning and fulfilling his burial.

Transition

As we join the sons, as they stand by the burial tomb of their father, we too should reflect upon the life of Abraham. No doubt they stood there exchanging stories and memories of their beloved father. He had loved them both we equal love and devotion. He had prayed for them both.

What are some lessons that we may learn today for living our lives in the 21st Century? Are there practical applications to be made in our lives and homes today?

The answer is found in the Scriptures in First Corinthians 10:11, and in Romans 15:4

1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV 1900

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Romans 15:4 KJV 1900

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

All that is recorded in the Old Testament is for our example and learning from.

Therefore, let us give some thought to the life of Abraham as we assist the sons in laying him to rest.

I. God Knows Our Life Completely

cf. Psalm 90:9-12

Psalm 90:9–12 KJV 1900

9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

–God’s Perspective of Time & Life is Different than Ours.

–In Isaiah 55:8-9, God states the following:

Isaiah 55:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

Therefore, God’s view of our life will not too often be the same as our view of our life. God sees from the non-linear eternal perspectives, but we see from the linear time perspective. We are bound by time, and God is not.

This is a thought-provoking observation.

As we consider our study in the life of Abraham, we should remember we first met him in the latter verses of chapter 11. At that time, he was seventy-five years old. Then, we should notice the time comparison of the stages of his life.

Chapters 22-21: from the calling to the birth of Isaac = 25 years & 10 chapters

Chapters 22-24: from the birth of Isaac until the death of Sarah = 40 years & 3 chapters

Chapter 25:1-20: from the marriage of Isaac to Abraham’s death = 35 years & 10 verses

The only thing that we learn about Abraham in the final ten verses of his life is that he

Remarried after the death of Sarah.

Gave Isaac all that had.

Gave gifts to his other sons from his concubines

Sent the other sons away from Isaac.

If it the first 25 years took 10 chapters then, if the same about of detail were given about the remain 75 years of his life, then Genesis would have been 30 chapters longer!

This does not mean that Abraham’s life became less important as he aged, but it does tell us two other principles.

A. We Must be Willing to Fade Away in Order to Fulfill God’s Plan & Show God’s Glory

John Wesley had an interesting thought on this portion of the text. He wrote the following:

Five and thirty years Abraham lived after the marriage of Isaac, and all that is recorded concerning him during that time lies here in a very few verses: we hear no more of God’s extraordinary appearances to him, or trials of him; for all the days even of the greatest saints are not eminent days, some slide on silently, and neither come nor go with observation: such where these last days of Abraham. [1]

The lesson that we should learn from this abridged narrative of the last 35 years of Abraham’s life is that even good and faithful believers, who have served the Lord faithfully and well, can fade into relative obscurity in their later days.

This should not trouble us, and neither should it discourage us, for we are called to be faithful to the task as long as the Lord sees fit.

This is exactly what John the Baptist stated when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30).

It is not up to us to determine the direction and days of our service for the Lord.

He, alone, is the deciding factor of where we serve, when we serve, and how long we serve.

Yes, we are to personally remain faithful until we draw our final breath of life here. However, our public ministry and service may fade into the archived pages of history, but they count. There is an eternal record recorded in Heaven, and one day the rewards for that service will be fully realized!

B. The Preparation for a Life of Ministry is as Important as the Ministry

As God prepared John in the wilderness, or Paul in Arabia for 3 years, so Abraham must needs to be shaped, molded, and prepared. All of Abraham’s life was a preparation for fulling the call of God on his life.

After the test of faith in Genesis 22, when he was called to offer his only begotten and beloved son upon the altar, was he fully prepared to complete that which God had ordained for his life. Likewise, it is still true today that God prepares those thoroughly He plans to use completely.

II. God Chooses the Most Unlikely

A. Abraham’s tradition (Gen. 11:31; Jos. 24:2; Acts 7:2-4)

1. The calling

God took Abraham out of a culture of idolatry. It all started beyond the Euphrates River with God’s unexpected and unexplained grace taking Abram out of paganism and into the land of promise.[2 - Max Anders]

2. The separation

–From his father (Acts 7:4)

–From his nephew, Lot (Gen. 13:14).

B. The believer’s limitation (1 Cor. 1:18-20, 26-29).

1. Fools to the world (1 Cor. 1:18, 27)

“We are fools for Christ’s sake...” (1 Cor. 4:10a)

1 Corinthians 4:10 KJV 1900

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake

1 Corinthians 3:18 KJV 1900

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

2. Insignificant things to the world (1 Cor. 1:28).

1 Corinthians 1:28 KJV 1900

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are

“base” = insignificant.

III. God Blesses the Faithful

Genesis 25:11 “And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.”

A. Abraham the father (Gen. 25:7-8)

–The text records that “he lived.”

The problem with so many people is that then never really live. They exist from day-to-day, but they never live.

-Verse 8 is a fulfillment of the promise that God made to Abraham in Genesis 15:15 “And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.”

THOT: “a good old age.” This phrase reminds us of the God’s promise of “the first commandment with promise,” which is “honor thy father and thy mother, that is may be well with the and thou mayest live long upon the land.” Abraham had certainly honored his father, even though his father was an impediment to Abram fulfilling the will of God at that time.

It also reminds us of what Proverbs says concerning obeying the Lord, in Proverbs 3:1–2 “My son, forget not my law; But let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, And peace, shall they add to thee.”

Abraham lived a life that was pleasing to the Lord, and he lived a live that was “full.”

B. Isaac the son (Gen. 25:11)

It does not take the Holy Spirit long to tell us that Isaac was blessed by God (v.11). There is a reason for this.

While the other descendants of Abraham may not have followed after God and His righteousness, Isaac did. Until this point, we have no record of God talking to Isaac, or blessing Isaac, except with a wife in the previous chapter.

Yet, it appears that God’s blessing on Isaac was more than a simply blessing from being Abraham’s son. The Scriptures are quick to state that he lived “by the well of Lahai-roi” (v.11). This was a special place for Isaac.

The well of Lahairoi was, apparently, one of Isaac’s favorite places to be.

It is a place first mentioned in Gen. 16:14, when Hagar was fleeing from Sarai.

Genesis 16:14 KJV 1900

14 Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

The name of the well means “lit. well of the living One that seeth me.” [3}

The next time we see it mentioned is in Gen. 24:62. It tells us that the well is in the South country.

It is in this context that he is coming back from the well, and meditating in the field, when he met Rebekah.

The final time we find it mentioned is in Gen. 25:11.

After the burial of his father, Abraham, he went back to the place of comfort, meditation, and knowing God’s presence. The text says that he “dwelt” there.

There is blessing in dwelling in the secret place (cf. Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”)

One writer makes this comment about the well,

“The article discusses the significance of Lahairoi, the well associated with Isaac, symbolizing God's constant presence and care. It emphasizes the importance of worship in the house of God, where believers find refuge and blessings. The text warns against neglecting public worship, highlighting its role in spiritual nourishment and community.” [4]

In the Old Testament a “place” was often associated with meeting with God.

Consider Jacob at Bethel, or Abraham at Bethel, or the

dedicatory prayer for Solomon’s Temple in 2 Chr. 7,

or Moses writing about the “secret place” in Psalm 91.

Jesus also had a place where he went to pray (John 18:2 “And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.”)

This is a thought-provoking consideration.

Do we have a place where we meet with God?

Isaac found comfort in the place where he met God. It seems too many people today have no consciousness of the presence of God.

They have no place where they habitually meet with God and, thus, they have no place of comfort and encouragement when the sorrows of life overwhelm them.

Conclusion

Are you one who can learn and benefit from the life lessons of others? Are you willing to model the life and faith of Abraham? Do you know the God of Abraham?

_____

[1] Wesley, John. 1765. Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament. Vol. 1. Bristol: William Pine.

[2] Gangel, Kenneth O. 2002. Joshua. Edited by Max Anders. Holman Old Testament Commentary. B&H Publishing Group.

[3] Whitaker, Richard, Francis Brown, S.R. (Samuel Rolles) Driver, and Charles A. (Charles Augustus) Briggs. 1906. In The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament: From A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament by Francis Brown, S.R. Driver and Charles Briggs, Based on the Lexicon of Wilhelm Gesenius. Boston; New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company.”

[4] Donald S. Fortner, Discovering Christ in Genesis, Ge 25:5, p 239