We will begin this lesson in Genesis 25:1 “Then again Abraham took a
wife, and her name [was] Keturah.”
“Keturah” means incense. I cannot believe that a man over 100 years old
would even want to marry.
Genesis 25:2 “And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and
Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.”
Can you believe that Abraham, after the age of 100 had six children?:
“Zimran” means antelope.
Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. They started the Sabaeans
and Dedanites (Arabs)
“Midian.” means strife. the Midianites were, probably, his descendents.
“Ishbak” means strife. he was the father of some of the northern Arab
tribes.
Genesis 25:3 “And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan
were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.”
“Letushim” means oppressed.
“Leummim” means nations or peoples.
It seemed all three of these sons of Dedan probably were the fathers of Arab
nations.
Genesis 25:4 “And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and
Abidah, and Eldaah. All these [were] the children of Keturah.”
“Ephah” means gloom.
“Epher” means gazelle.
“Hanoch” means initiated.
“Abidah” means father of knowledge.
“Eldaah” means God of knowledge.
You can easily see from this, these were races of people that God had
established through Abraham. Here again, these were children of the flesh,
and not of promise. These were the fathers of various Abrab countries.
Genesis 25:5 “And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.”
Genesis 25:6 “But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had,
Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet
lived, eastward, unto the east country.”
You can easily see preferential treatment to the son of promise. Even
in the spirit, it seems preferential, because the only thing that can get
anyone into heaven is through faith in Jesus the Christ. These sons of the
flesh, the same as sons of the flesh today, would be sent away. Abraham did
give them gifts to get them started, but his real blessing was to Isaac. It
is interesting, that he sent them to the eastern countries. Much of the
fallen condition of the churches today is because eastern countries’
influence has infiltrated the church. The flesh and the spirit cannot live
together in peace. These half-brothers of Isaac were sent away so no feuding
would occur when Abraham died. Isaac was not to associate with fleshly
people.
Genesis 25:7 “And these [are] the days of the years of Abraham’s life
which he lived, an hundred three score and fifteen years.” Genesis 25:8
“Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and
full [of years]; and was gathered to his people.” Genesis 25:9 “And his sons
Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of
Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which [is] before Mamre;”
Abraham lived to the ripe old age of 175. Because of his great faith
and strength, God extended his life. Most people lived to be 120 years old
then. It is interesting, to me, that Isaac and Ishmael buried their father.
You remember in a previous lesson, that it said Ishmael would dwell around
Isaac. The other half-brothers had been sent away. They buried Abraham in
the same cave with Sarah, the cave which Abraham had bought for a burial
place as we read in verse ten.
Genesis 25:10 “The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth:
there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.” 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.”
This was the same well discussed in a previous lesson. “Lahairoi” means
the well of Him that liveth and seeth me, or the well of the vision of life.
You see, Isaac would be blessed, because of Abraham, and because of his
own life, too. This made it a double blessing. Isaac was the second of the
great Partriarchs. (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.)
Genesis 25:12 “Now these [are] the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s
son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:”
Genesis 25:13 “And these [are] the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their
names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth;
and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,” Genesis 25:14 “And Mishma, and Dumah,
and Massa,” Genesis 25:15 “Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:”
Genesis 25:16 “These [are] the sons of Ishmael, and these [are] their names,
by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their
nations.”
You can easily see by this, Ishmael and his descendents were blessed
here on this earth in the flesh. The twelve sons were twelve princes, and
even had castles. They were wealthy and had much prestige among their
nations. In contrast, Isaac’s blessing was spiritual.
These sons had Egyptian ancestry and were Arabs.
“Egypt” means of the world.
“Kedar” means to be dark, or to be able, mighty.
“Abdeel” means servant of God.
“Mibsam” means balsom, or sweet odor.
“Mishma” means hearing.
“Dumah” means silence.
“Massa” means burden.
“Hadar” means chamber.
Some sons are not traceable; they seem to just drop from Bible history.
Genesis 25:17 “And these [are] the years of the life of Ishmael, an
hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and
was gathered unto his people.”
It seems we must give up the ghost. Ishmael lived to be 137.
Genesis 25:18 “And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before
Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the presence of all
his brethren.”
As we said before, these were Arabs living in all the Arab countries
surrounding Israel.
Genesis 25:19 “And these [are] the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s
son: Abraham begat Isaac:” Genesis 25:20 “And Isaac was forty years old
when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-
aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.” Genesis 25:21 “And Isaac entreated
the LORD for his wife, because she [was] barren: and the LORD was entreated
of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.”
Here we understand that Isaac was forty years old before he married. He
wanted children the same as his parents wanted him. With Hebrews, it is very
important to have a family to carry on the family heritage. We see, here,
what prayer can do. God answers prayers. God changed her not being able to
have children, and she was with child.
Genesis 25:22 “And the children struggled together within her; and she
said, If [it be] so, why [am] I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.”
Here again, we see a problem that seems too hard to understand. It had
to be bad for her to realize there was a conflict in her womb.
Genesis 25:23 “And the LORD said unto her, Two nations [are] in thy
womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and [the
one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and the elder shall
serve the younger.” Genesis 25:24 “And when her days to be delivered were
fulfilled, behold, [there were] twins in her womb.” Genesis 25:25 “And the
first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name
Esau.” Genesis 25:26 “And after that came his brother out, and his hand took
hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac [was]
threescore years old when she bare them.”
This is very interesting. Even before their birth, these two sons were
warring in Rebekah’s womb. These two boys truly would be opposite, one a
wild man – a hunter, and the other a quiet man who stayed home and helped
his mother. The Lord told her of the future, when He said the older shall
serve the younger. These twin boys were opposites. They did not even look
alike. One was hairy, even from birth. “Esau” means hairy. “Jacob” means
trickster. Both names well suited the boys. Isaac was 60 years old when
these boys were born.
Genesis 25:27 “And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man
of the field; and Jacob [was] a plain man, dwelling in tents.” Genesis
25:28 “And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of [his] venison: but
Rebekah loved Jacob.”
This was a very unhealthy situation. Parents should never pick a
favorite and love that child more than the other. This causes jealousy, and
bad things can spring from that. You can understand the daddy appreciating
the outdoor young man. Men like their boys to be tough, able to withstand
problems, not sissies. Esau killed fresh game, and brought it to Isaac,
also.
Genesis 25:29 “And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field,
and he [was] faint:” Genesis 25:30 “And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray
thee, with that same red [pottage]; for I [am] faint: therefore was his name
called Edom.”
Jacob had a garden. Esau had been out hunting, he was tired, and very
hungry. He begged food of his brother, Jacob. This had to be something like
beef stew. At any rate, it had the red color. “Edom” means red. Esau was to
become the father of the Edomites.
Genesis 25:31 “And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.”
Genesis 25:32 “And Esau said, Behold, I [am] at the point to die: and what
profit shall this birthright do to me?” Genesis 25:33 “And Jacob said, Swear
to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto
Jacob.” Genesis 25:34 “Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles;
and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised
[his] birthright.”
This transaction would come back to haunt Esau. This was a place where
things of this earth cost him his eternity. He was so hungry that he
actually gave his inheritance for a bowl of soup. God would frown on this,
because Esau did not respect his inheritance at all