Read Genesis 25:1-34
Although the first 10 verses conclude the
series on Abraham’s Saga, there is much more to be learned of him from numerous
other passages. The remainder of the chapter focuses on his son of promise
Isaac.
1-5: Abraham remarries to Keturah (Heb. incense) after the death of Sarah.
Keturah gave him six sons and ten grandsons. She was Abraham’s third wife. He
also had concubines of which gave him sons, which he sent toward the East away
from Isaac. Abraham lived 175 years before he died. Now-a-days life expectancy
is rising that many are expected to be centurions at their departure from this
world. Before he died he gave everything to Isaac (5).
Counting Abraham’s wives
1.
Gen.11:29 …the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai
2.
Gen.16:3 …and Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian…and gave her
to her husband Abram to be his wife.
3.
Gen.25:1 Then again Abraham took a
wife, and her name was Keturah (Heb. incense)
see also 1Chron.1:32-33. Comparing Hagar to Keturah it isn’t difficult to
regard Keturah as Abraham’s concubine turned wife. Recall that it was ancient
practice to take a concubine as a wife (16:3). From this lesson we learned
ancient Babylonian law afforded a man the right to take a concubine as a wife
thereby giving her full status, rights and privileges as afforded a wife. We
also learned that even though man afforded such behavior it was still not
condoned or sanctioned by God. In this lesson we observe that Abraham had other
concubines to which he gave gifts unto their sons and sent them away from Isaac
toward the east. (6), but they had not the full privileges of a wife.
·
Among the Assyrians the concubine (esirtu)
gained the rank of wife only after the veiling ceremony conducted by her
spouse, if he so chose to elevate her (Assyrian Code A, 41).
·
The legal formalities, if any, are
not described in the Bible.
·
A concubine did not always reside in
her husband's home (Judg. 8:31), but such was not the general rule (Judg.
19–20).
·
Therefore whilst Abraham had children by
numerous concubines yet it still was not sanctioned by the Lord God and they
were not accounted as wives but as concubines.
·
No doubt some practicing polygamy trace the
practice to Abraham thus condoning the behavior as sanctioned by God.
·
However, Deut. 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn
away…So God never did condone or sanction polygamy even though there are
those who assert that God was not against it. my reasoning is that if God
forbid polygamy in Deuteronomy He must be against it from the beginning as He
never changes. The whole premise of Deut.17:17 is that men would not
turn their hearts from the Lord God even as Solomon.
·
So those use Scripture to justify the
practice of polygamy do so to in error seeking to justify their ungodly
behavior by taking Scripture out of context.
Fullness of life
In a time when it is often
said a person dies before their time or an untimely demise the Scripture says
of Abraham …died in a good old age, and
full of years [175 years] (7-8)
in other words he lived out his years to the fullest, not flushing it away with
folly. After all, he was indeed a man of
God.
9: Both his sons Isaac and Ishmael bury him with Sarah,
Isaac’s mother. Remember, Ishmael’s mother was an Egyptian thus making Ishmael
half Egyptian. An interesting scene for half brothers to unite for the burial
of their father. I wonder how many half brothers, today, would do the same.
Perhaps it is because Abraham loved them both, quite a tribute to the man of God.
12-17:
chronicles the twelve sons of Ishmael, their towns, castles, and nations.
Ishmael lived 137 years.
Attention
now returns to Isaac and his life.
Gen.24:67…he loved
her. Contrary to the belief of some Isaac’s love for Rebekah went far
beyond the procreation of children, for she was barren (25:21). To love her
meant he had to demonstrate his love by his treatment of her, in his respect
toward her, making her feel loved, worthwhile, important, special, number one
in his life and not taken for granted. Deuteronomy 24:5 When a man hath taken a new wife he shall not go out to war, neither
shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year,
and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken. I believe Isaac did
exactly that, he cheered her up. He made her feel like she was number one,
special, respected and not a like a baby factory or sex object. He covered her
with prayer asking God to requite her barreness. This is a valuable lesson for
contemporary society. Read Proverbs 31:10-31, a profound treatise on the value
of womanhood and motherhood.
The power of prayer
Today we have fertility
doctors and clinics all attempting to find a cure for the barren womb. But
Isaac’s fertility physician was none other than the Lord God, Creator of heaven
and earth. Isaac was also a man of God. Perhaps,
above all else, this is the reason Rebekah loved Isaac.
20-27: God answered Isaac’s prayer with two sons, twins,
not identical perhaps, but nonetheless twins. Esau, the eldest, and strongest, Jacob
the younger, they struggled or fought with each other even in the womb; Jacob
holding Esau’s heel from birth. God said they were two nations and said the
elder [Esau would swerve the younger Jacob].They were born when Isaac was 60
years old.
Esau: Heb: hairy,
shaggy
·
The eldest of the twins
·
Father of the Edomites (Edom)
·
A cunning hunter
·
A man of the fields
·
Very hairy
·
Loved by Isaac more than Jacob
·
Fleshly minded Obadiah 1:3; prideful, self
deceived, self sufficient
Jacob: Heb: suplanter;
schemer, take the place of another, trip up, overthrow
·
Younger [though not by much, perhaps seconds]
·
Beloved favorite of his mother Rebekah
·
A tent dweller
·
More spiritually minded
11: God’s blessing
Isaac’s
blessing by the Lord God depended not on Isaac himself, but rests entirely on
the covenant God made with Abraham. Isaac was the child of promise whereas
Ishmael was the child of the flesh attempting to fulfill the divine assertion
by fulfilling it with fleshly means, which will never suffice.
Isaac lived by the well
Lahairoi (well of the Living One who sees me) on the Southwest border of
Canaan. Remember names in Scriptures had specific meanings, quite often
celebrating or memorializing a meeting place with the Lord God.
12-18 chronicles the names of the twelve sons of Ishmael,
their towns, and castles. They were twelve princes of twelve nations [foretold
in Gen.17:20].
17: Ishmael lived 137 years and died.
18: Ishmael’s sons lived in the direction of Assyria in
the land of Havilah to Shur approaching Egypt.
Isaac’s love for Esau
At first thought one would
think a father would love his twins equally, however this was not the case with
Isaac. He loved Esau more than Jacob. Many scholars call this a battle between
the flesh and the spirit. The analogy is that even though they were twins yet
all humans are born with a fleshly nature [the tendency to submit to the lusts
of the flesh] and a spiritual nature [which is in tune the things of God].
Esau, Edom, represented the fleshly side of man while
Jacob the things of the spirit. This is made evident when Esau hungered almost
to death and forfeited his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red pottage
[lentil or red bean stew]. Even today there is a constant battle between the
flesh and the spirit Rom.7:6-25.
Some scholars assert that
teaching a fleshly and spiritual side constitutes a schizophrenic or split
personality. However, Scriptures disagree, or else from where would the inward
struggle with come from since no Spirit-filled child of God can be possessed by
Satan. Paul continues to admonish the churches to shun evil, to separate
themselves from all manner of evil temptations even to the exhortations to
discipline unruly members and not to even eat with them. Not once did Paul
infer the possibility of demonic possession; rather the battle between the
flesh and the spirit. He also advocated self discipline Gal.5:23. Esau, on the
other hand, was more concerned for his fleshly appetite and was willing to
forego his birthright and was called a profane
person Heb.12:16-17.
If it
were indeed true that we have a split personality then one by necessity would
have to conclude all Christians as demonically possessed for all struggle with
temptation in one form or another. The term possessed meaning: one was under
absolute control of another thus having no realm of self-discipline. If that
were the case we would all have excuse for our sinfulness; but since it is not
true we are all held accountable
The lesson
here is (our flesh, before salvation) cares more for the things of the temporal
than the Spiritual and therefore sell our birthright for that which perishes.
Sometimes Christians will sell out to their fleshly desires foregoing the
spiritual blessings.
Jacob
29-34 Jacob, on the other hand, was sensitive to the
spiritual significance of the blessing of the firstborn, therefore when Esau
pleaded for food, thinking he was about to die, he bartered with his brother
for the birthright of the firstborn. Many scholars believe this act by Jacob to
be the act of a trickster. I, on the other hand, believe it to be far more than
the conniving activity some believe.
Rights of the firstborn
After the father died the firstborn son
assumed the father’s authority and responsibilities.
·
The father could rescind the birthright and
pass it on to a younger son. In the case of Jacob and his twelve sons. Jacob
blessed the younger son, Ephraim, above the elder, Manasseh Gen.37:19-22; Gen. 49:1-4; Gen. 49:22-26.
·
Gen.49:3-4 Reuben, the eldest, was rejected
for his act of incest with Jacob’s concubine; and being unstable.
·
Simeon and Levi were instruments of cruelty.
·
Judah speaks prophetically of the coming of
the Messiah to die on Calvary’s cross.
·
Joseph would have the birthright bestowed
upon himself and pass it to Ephraim rather than Manasseh, the firstborn.
·
Assumed the leadership role in the family.
·
He received a position of authority in the
family, and also in the kingdom if the king’s son Gen. 27:37; 1 Sam. 20:27, 29;
2 Chron. 21:3.
·
Priestly service. Instead of the firstborn of
all Israel serving in the tabernacle, the Levites were taken for service. Num.
3:12-13; 8:17-19. Besides the temple service given to the tribe of Levi, there
was also a measure of priestly duty within the family given to the firstborn
son. The birthright could be transferred to one who was not literally the
firstborn.
·
In cases where a husband might have more than
one wife, the birthright always went to the firstborn son of the father and could
not be awarded to the son of a favorite wife without proper justification Deut. 21:15-17, or
if the firstborn son’s mother was a concubine or a slave Gen.21:9-13; Jud. 11:1-2.
·
The birthright of a king’s firstborn son
included his succession to the throne 2 Chron. 21:1-3.
King Rehoboam of Judah violated this tradition by passing the birthright to
Abijah, his favorite son. However, to avoid trouble with the older sons, the
king paid them off 2 Chron. 11:18-23.
·
As noted by the exclusion of Reuben and his
brethren in favor of Joseph, choice for the rights of firstborn appears to be
more of having a mind for the spiritual as opposed to the flesh; which lends
itself to prophetic unction and spiritual discernment on the part of the
father.
Examples of loss of the rights of
the firstborn:
- Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. Gen.
25:31-33.
- In Jacob’s family, Reuben was literally the first one
born. However, he lost his birthright due to his sexual sin (Gen. 35:44;
49:3-4) Now the sons of Reuben the
firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his
father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of
Israel; so that he is not
enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. (1 Chron. 5:1).
New
Testament
The birthright in Hebrew
culture is also a type and shadow of the NT birthright. The OT examples serve to
show that no flesh may inherit the kingdom of God. The flesh must forfeit its
rights as firstborn to the spiritual
man or nature.
As New Testament Christians, we have an inherited
“birthright” status through Jesus Christ as the firstborn Son of God Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15; Rev. 1:5.
·
Jesus also received the priesthood Heb. 7:21.
·
All authority given to Jesus Matt.28:18-20
and thereby passed to all who believe on Him.
·
The reason Christians may use the Name of
Jesus is because He has passed or given the authority to do so unto us all
·
Therefore it is of utmost importance that we
not take the birthright for granted, lightly
esteeming it; but hold fast to it with awe and reverence.
·
We are listed in heaven’s chronology of the FIRSTBORN!
·
Simply stated, the birthright for the Christian is one of authority, power, and Holy
service. One to be held with the utmost respect, awe, holiness, power, and not
to be taken for granted.
“Christians are warned not
to imitate Esau who, on impulse, gave away his birthright for a bowl of stew Heb.12:16-17; Gen. 25:19-34.
Because of his foolishness, Esau lost his birthright and the blessings of his
father Gen. 27. The lesson for us is to respect what is holy. We should never
throw away what is important, godly, or honorable for the sake of temporary
pleasure.
Our focus is to remain on Jesus,
the appointed heir of all things Heb.1:2; Ps. 2:7-8; Matt. 28:18.
And we, through His grace and our faith in Him, are counted as joint heirs Rom. 8:17; Gal.3:29; Titus 3:7.” 1gotquestions?,org
For the sake of argument,
only the male children were eligible for the birthrights as presented in the Scriptures. Even from the beginning
and throughout the Scriptures God affords the male as His designated leader
first of his own life, second his family, third in service to God and lastly to
his country. This is not to say that the female gender cannot hold these
offices, rather it merely states the divine order in the cosmos.
Faith
Building Practice and Review
1. How
old was Abraham when he died?
2. How
many wives did he have?
3. How
many sons and grandsons did Keturah give Abraham?
4. Who
buried Abraham and where?
5. What
did Isaac do when he found out Rebekah was barren?
6. What
were the names of her sons?
7. What
evidence in the power of prayer do you see?
8. What
are the three main benefits of the blessings of the firstborn?
9. If
one were not the firstborn son, what
blessing, if any, would they be entitled to?
10. What
is the significance of the birthright for Christians?
11. Name
three OT people who lost their birthright?
12. What
authority does the birthright afford
Christians?
13. Could
it not be that the birthright is a
major cause of wars and strife in the Middle East? Explain.
14. Do
you see God condoning or sanctioning polygamy in the OT?
15. What
kind of problems might arise if polygamy were allowed today?
16. If
God were to sanction polygamy surely He would have foreseen the adverse
consequences other than the heart turning from Him. Do you agree? Explain.
17. With
what demeanor are we to hold the birthright?
Knowing
God
A brief [not complete, add
to the list] synopsis of the persona of God:
·
Love
·
Gracious
·
Merciful
·
Righteous
·
Longsuffering
·
Gentle
·
Faithful
·
Compassionate
·
Forgiving
·
Friend
The ultimate goal of Bible study is to
know God and not to merely memorize Bible trivia. As you study, identify the
attributes of God. For instance: make a note when you read of God extending His
forgiveness or compassion, and remember how He has done the same for you.
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