Thursday Night Bible Study

-->

Genesis 25 

"Transitions" • 4.22.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- Genesis 25 is a transition chapter, from the life of Abraham to the life of Isaac. Moses is tying up the loose ends of Abraham's story. The chapter as we have it breaks into four sections.

I. Abraham's History (v.1-11)

II. Ishmael's History (v.12-18)

III. Isaac's Introduction (v.19-23)

IV. Jacob & Esau's Introduction (v.24-34)

Text

I. Abraham's History (v.1-11)

• Genesis 25:1-11 : "Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. 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. This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. 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. 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, the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi." : Moses records for us here that Abraham took a wife, Keturah, at about 140ish! I Chronicles 1:32 mentions that Keturah was a concubine. She was likely a concubine before Sarah's death. And they were very active!

- Keturah bore him six children that we sons. You'll remember that daughters were rarely mentioned in genealogies. Who knows how many children that they had over their 30 years.

- The two notable descendants are the Medanites and the Midianites. Medan, the Medo-Persians, are the twin countries of Iraq/Iran. Midian would also become a national enemy of Israel.

- Before Abraham died, he sent the sons of the concubines away, so that the inheritance would be thoroughly clear. Isaac was the sole beneficiary. No other would have legal claim.

- Abraham lived 175 and then was buried with his wife Sarah in the cave that he bought. Moses affirms that he died in a good old age, an old man full of years.

- One commentator mentions that the words "of years" are not found in the original manuscripts. Literally, it would read that Abraham died full. Satisfied. Without any want.

- When you live a life according to God's plan, there is nothing in this life that is good that you will be missing out on! Abraham is gone and then it's said that Isaac was blessed by God.

- Aside from Moses, there is nobody mentioned in the New Testament more times and in the world, there is not a greater influence than Abraham.

II. Ishmael's History (v.12-18)

• Genesis 25:12-18 : "Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. 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, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. 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. (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. " : Moses gives us Ishmael's genealogy. He had twelve children that are called "princes" according to their nations. They were founders of the Arabic nations.

- This fulfilled what God had spoken to Abraham years earlier when he had to let go of Ishmael. God had specifically said that he'd have 12 princes. Promise kept!

- Additionally, Ishmael lived 137 years and then he died.

- We need to clear a few items about Ishmael. He was not the son of promise, but God loved him and blessed his life. He had a family and enjoyed that during his life.

- Ishmael was a riches to rags and back to riches story in life. Even though he represents the power of the flesh because of Abraham's failure to trust, Ishmael himself was a blessed man.

III. Isaac's Introduction (v.19-34)

• Genesis 25:19-23 : "This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. 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. Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 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. 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.'" : Isaac was 40 years old when he faced the same issue that Abraham faced years earlier.

- With the promise of God that there would be children, I am pretty sure that Isaac and Rebekah believed that having children would be very simple. However, this was not the case.

- After their marriage, the promise of children did not come as easily as expected.

- Rebekah was barren, just like Sarah before her.

- They had tried and tried to conceive but to no avail. Rebekah was unable to conceive.

- I wonder if Isaac wondered: “Was this the right woman?”

- Then I wonder if they started to think about how they would “help” God out?

- All they would have to do was look at their own history and they could see that “helping God out” was destined to fail.

- One cannot really imagine the shame for a regular woman. Today, it's a sad reality. Then it was considered a curse from God. Add to this the confusion knowing what God's promise was!

- Note this critical point: Each of us has to have our own faith. Each must be tested individually. Each will have their own story, their own testimony of God's work in their life.

- We cannot live on the faith of another. If we are going to walk with God, He will be working on us individually. What could Isaac do?

- Isaac, seeing this issue, confronts it head on. He pleaded with the Lord for his wife, on her behalf. He begged the Lord because she was barren.

- A wonderful example for us to note: When confronted with difficult problems, we must meet that with vigilant prayer.

- Moses let's us know that God heard and responded affirmatively. Hold onto that thought, as we'll return to it in a moment.

- Remember that God's plan was to multiply Abraham's descendants. Isaac prayed according to that knowledge. I thank the Lord that Isaac had the faith to pray.

- He had evidence of God's miraculous power when he looked in the mirror! But most admirable, when the pressure came and the fear was the greatest, Isaac did not cave.

- He did not call a concubine. He did not go down to Egypt. He prayed!

- When Rebekah conceived, she noted that her pregnancy was unusual, beyond the normal difficulties of a first pregnancies.

- Moses notes that there were children within her and that they struggled within her. The NIV translates the word "struggled" as "jostled." The spanish translation has it that they wrestled!

˚ "Jewish legends say Jacob and Esau tried to kill each other in the womb. Also, every time Rebekah went near an idol’s altar, Esau would get excited in the womb, and when she would go near a place where the Lord was worshipped, Jacob would get excited." David Guzik

- That sounds like fun! She had conceived, which was an answer to Isaac's prayers. Now, as she experiences this personal difficulty, it's Rebekah that goes into prayer action.

- She went to inquire of the Lord. I want to suggest first that she prayed because he prayed! He plead, she inquired of the Lord.

- The word "inquired" means to seek out. The word means to dedicate oneself to the search.

- Notice also that this seeking was focused. She kept asking the same question. She wanted to know the answer to one question: "If all is well, then why am I like this?"

- I like this sentence, even when not applied to pregnancy. “God, I know that you are with me but why can’t I stop being fearful?” "Why am I often attacked by lust?" etc.

- She kept on asking, seeking and knocking. What happened? The Lord said to her!

- This is wonderful. God spoke. God answered. He answered a specific question specifically, personally! Don't miss that!

- His answer is telling: You have two nations inside there! Well, that would do it!

- His answer explains her situation and gives guidance and vision for their life. And the surprising Word of the Lord was that the older of the children would serve the younger.

- This was contrary to the usual customs of the Ancient near east, which dictated that the first-born be given the power to rule and carry on the family after the patriarch was gone.

- God, before either had come into the world, had decreed that one would be stronger than the other. That struggle within her womb would provide an illustration that would define their lives.

- Rebekah will hold onto this word, as God says clearly that this is what He wants to transpire. However, we'll find that this clear word from the Lord was not enforced in their home.

IV. Jacob & Esau's Introduction (v.24-34)

• Genesis 25:24-28 : "So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 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. So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob." : This section gives us a study in contrasts, as well as a microcosmic view of Esau and Jacob's relationship. First, neither of them ever had their own womb! Sorry!

- Esau was the first to emerge and the details are interesting. He was red haired from top to bottom! He was like a red fur coat! They had to call him Esau.

- Jacob's name was just as appropriate. His first act was to grab at Esau's heel. It was a physical act that marked his life. He was always grabbing at the heels of someone.

- Isaac was 60 years old at the boys birthday. He prayed for 19 years 3 months. We pray for 19 minutes and think that we have exhausted the Lord! Don't give up!

- The boys grew and the contrast continued. Esau was a man of the field; Jacob was a mild man. Unfortunately, this seems to be a very poor translation.

- This word seems to make Jacob almost effeminate. The Hebrew word however has a very different meaning. It’s used 13 times and it is translated “perfect,” “undefiled,” “plain,” “upright.”

- When the same word is used of Job, the same word is translated “blameless.”

- The idea is that he was quiet, happy to be home.

- But verse 28, sums up the disquieting issue that marked their life. Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob!

- Instead of bringing up their children in the Word of the Lord, each is grooming their favorite. Isaac has likely already decided to bless Esau.

- Who knows why? Perhaps it was just his natural love for Esau. Maybe it was just an acceptance of the societal norm. This will come back to bite them both later.

- These words give us a framework that we will see pop up over the span of their lives.

• Genesis 25:29-34 : "Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, 'Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.' Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, 'Sell me your birthright as of this day.' And Esau said, 'Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?' Then Jacob said, 'Swear to me as of this day.' So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 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 and Jacob's struggles continue here with a well concocted plan of deception, laid out by Jacob.

- He knew very well what he was doing. Esau was easy to deal with. He was about as one dimensional as you can get.

- He'd go out and do the same thing everyday, and come back in the same way everyday. He'd spent himself entirely out in the field and come in completely famished.

- Jacob calculated his return and got himself in position to be the one that met that impulsive need. His stew was delicious and it was red.

- Jacob set the market value for the day: This stew will cost you your birthright. What was a birthright? It was the blessing that came with being the first born.

- The birthright involved 3 things. First, it dealt with material possessions. The birthright assured a that the wealth of the family be given in double portion.

- Second, the birthright dealt with the spiritual blessing of the family patriarch.

- Third, and most importantly the Messianic line would continue through the owner of the birthright.

- Jacob here is asking for not only the lionshare of the family wealth, but more importantly, the spiritual leadership of the family.

- It was the key to the family treasure box! It was the privilege to lead. Jacob wanted it, knowing that the Lord had promised it to Rebekah.

- No doubt, they had that conversation over and over again, as Jacob perfected her red stew recipe, likely Esau's favorite.

- When the price was set, Esau showed that the value of this long term, far off promise was not worth dying for. After all, he was going to die in that moment. Why hold onto this birthright?

- He held the idea of the birthright in contempt. It meant nothing to him. It was worthless.

- Turn over to Hebrews 12. The writer of Hebrews sheds some more light on the kind of person Esau was.

• Hebrews 12:14-16 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 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; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.”

- Jacob seized the oppportunity and gave him the bread and stew. Esau was satisfied with that momentary pleasure.

- What is sad is that this is the characteristic of this man who was not worthy of the leadership. He despised spiritual things, willing to waste himself on physical pleasures.

˚ “History shows that men prefer illusions to realities, choose time rather than eternity, and the pleasures of sin for a season rather than the joys of God forever. Men will read trash rather than the Word of God, and adhere to a system of priorities that leaves God out of their lives. Multitudes of men spend more time shaving than on their souls; and multitudes of women give more minutes to their makeup than to the life of the eternal spirit. Men still sell their birthright for a mess of pottage.” Donald Grey Barnhouse

- That being the case, Jacob is also someone who I find hard to admire. He wants spiritual things. He wants to lead. He wants spiritual responsibility. All of this is good and admirable.

- What is difficult is that his ambition for spiritual responsibility is accomplished through ungodly methods. His means are deception and trickery.

- And this is God's choice! He wants Jacob to lead. But God will have to redeem him from his own ambition and mistakes.

Conclusion

- Each of these 4 people represent 4 types of believers.

- To the Isaac believer I would say, “Love the Word of the Lord more than your personal preference.” He was ready to choose Esau, just out of preference.

- Our preferences are should be governed by a desire to first please the Lord, knowing that He will lead to a greater joy than we can bring to pass.

- To the Rebekah believer, I would say, “Let the Word of the Lord play out without manipulation.” God’s timing and will are perfect.

- He prepares the best time and the best way to bring things about. Our manipulation of the situation through deceit or any other natural facility will bring ruin to a good thing.

- To the Esau believer, I would say, “Live for the Word of the Lord instead of the pleasures of this world.”

- The temporary pleasures of this world do not compare with the ever increasing joy that comes from the Lord’s blessings.

- Finally, to the Jacob believer I would say, “Learn that the Word of the Lord can only bring blessing when approached in a godly way.” The God who ordains the ends, ordains the means.

- Jacob got the blessing, the birthright, but he did not enjoy it. When God gives it in His timing, there is blessing. When taken from that context, we can expect struggles.