GOD BLESSED ABRAHAM’S SON ISAAC
Genesis 25:1-18
After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi. (11)
chapter 25
1. Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah.
2. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.
3. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites.
4. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.
5. Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.
6. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.
7. Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years.
8. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
9. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite,
10. the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah.
11. After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.
12. This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Sarah’s slave, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham.
13. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
14. Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
15. Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.
16. These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps.
17. Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.
18. His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.
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1. As God promised, Abraham had offspring as numerous as stars in the sky (15:5). He became a father of many nations by Keturah (17:4), including tribes in Sheba and Dedan in Arabia (3), as well as the Midianites (4), among whom Moses would find shelter in his exile from Egypt (Ex 2:15). Our God is so faithful to every promise! He has promises for us in his Son Jesus Christ. We need eyes to see it! Abraham received these blessings wisely. He kept Isaac as his heir, but loved and cared for all his other children, sending them away with gifts (5-6). Abraham died at 175, having led life to the full, completing God’s purpose (18:19). God is pleased to bless us. Let’s ask God’s help to learn how to bear his blessing and pass it to the next generation. God blesses Isaac to continue in Abraham’s stead (11). Isaac dwells in Beer-Lahai-Roi, a special place in his family’s history (16:14; 24:62; 25:11). While revealing Abram’s failure, it highlights God’s grace and presence, watching over first Hagar, then Ishmael, and now Isaac. What about Ismael? God blesses Ishmael with twelve rulers just as he promised to Abraham (17:20).
Prayer: Father, your faithfulness to Abraham assures me of your faithfulness to me through Jesus Christ. Please help me bear it that you may bless my children after me and raise a thousand generations who love you by keeping your words.
One Word: Wisely bless the next generation