(25:1) Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. (2) She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. (3) Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. (4) The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. (5) Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. (6) But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country. (7) These are the days of the years of Abraham's life, 175 years. (8) 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) Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, (10) the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. (11) After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi. (12) These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant, bore to Abraham. (13) These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, (14) Mishma, Dumah, Massa, (15) Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. (16) These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. (17) (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) (18) They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen. (19) These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac, (20) and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. (21) And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. (22) The children struggled together within her, and she said, "If it is thus, why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. (23) And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger." (24) When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. (25) The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. (26) Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. (27) When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. (28) Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. (29) Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. (30) And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.) (31) Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now." (32) Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" (33) Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. (34) Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Summary: Abraham takes another wife, and bears more children. However, God's blessing is on Isaac. Isaac's wife Rebekah is barrer and he prays to the Lord that she may conceive. God grants Isaac's request and twin sons are born: Essau and Jacob. Essau makes a bad bargain with Jacob, giving up his birthright (satisfying the sensual over the spiritual and choosing the present over the future).
ReplyDeleteAnalysis: Father God, please help me to exhibit the patience and faith that both Abraham and his son Isaac did when they thought their wives were barren. Remind me again and again that You're God, and that You keep Your promises! And, help me to not succumb to my worldly, short-term hunger and give up the eternal birthright you promised me. I am like Essau, and often get off of your eternal path for the sake of short-term hungers. I'm a sinner, Jesus, and need you daily!
Summary: Abraham remarried after his wife died, then Abraham died, leaving everything he owned to his son Isaac, and some gifts to some of the other sons that he then sent away from Isaac. God knew ahead of time that the twin sons Rebecca and Isaac would have would become rival nations and the older son would serve the younger son. Later on, the older son (Esau) was really hungry, and so he traded his birthright for some food from the younger son (Jacob).
ReplyDeleteApplication: Heavenly Father… forgive me for being like the Esau and acting on immediate desires or impulses instead of thinking of the future. You know everything about me and the future choices I make. Please, I ask that you guide me and lead me towards You, that I may ask You for everything I need. That I would plead with you and depend on you for my needs. Thank You for healing me as I have pleaded with you to do for me. Thank you sooooooo much for this miracle. Please let this miracle draw others closer to You!