Genesis 25 - Abraham's Death and His Descendants

Lineage from Abraham to Jesus https://www.biblestudy.org/maps/map-of-lineage-from-abraham-to-jesus.html

The Genealogy of Abraham https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Genealogy_abraham.gif

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"Abraham takes another wife named Keturah.  She gives birth to six sons from Abraham.  The sons of Keturah also have more sons.  Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac.  Abraham gives gifts to the sons of his concubines, and he sends them to the land of the East.  Abraham dies at 175 years of age.  Isaac and Ishmael bury Abraham in the cave of Machpelah next to his wife Sarah.  Ishmael and his descendants live in opposition to all his brothers.  Ishmael has twelve sons that are leaders of their respective clans.  Ishmael dies at 137 years of age.  Isaac is wed to his wife Rebekah at 40 years of age.  Isaac prays for Rebekah because she is barren.  The Lord answers Isaac's prayer and Rebekah conceives twins:  Esau and Jacob.  Esau becomes an expert hunter and an outdoors man, while Jacob is a quiet man who stays at home.  Jacob convinces Esau to sell his birthright to him for a meal.  Esau agrees because he is famished.  Esau despises his birthright."

Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..

• "Now Abraham gave everything that he had to Isaac; but to the sons of his concubines [Hagar and Keturah], Abraham gave gifts while he was still living and he sent them to the east country, away from Isaac his son [of promise]." v.5-6

• "The days of Abraham’s life were a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and he died at a good old age, an old man who was satisfied [with life]; and he was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death]." v.7-8

• "Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean (Syrian) of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was unable to conceive children; and the Lord granted his prayer and Rebekah his wife conceived [twins]." v.20-21

• "The Lord said to her,

“[The founders of] two nations are in your womb;
And the separation of two nations has begun in your body;
The one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.” v.23

• "When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out reddish all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau (hairy). Afterward his brother came out, and his hand grasped Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob (one who grabs by the heel, supplanter). Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them." v.24-26

• "When the boys grew up, Esau was an able and skilled hunter, a man of the outdoors, but Jacob was a quiet and peaceful man, living in tents. Now Isaac loved [and favored] Esau, because he enjoyed eating his game, but Rebekah loved [and favored] Jacob." v.27-28

• "Jacob said, “Swear [an oath] to me today [that you are selling it to me for this food]”; so he swore [an oath] to him, and sold him his birthright. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. In this way Esau scorned his birthright." v.33-34

My personal observations and reflections...

• ANOTHER WIFE. Abraham took another wife, so he had additional sons, and descendants through them. And then he died, without seeing the promise in complete fruition. But his role as a faithful patriarch, the forefather of Israel will be remembered throughout the generation. How God awesomely worked His wonders, and how God gave the COVENANT PROMISE which everyone will anticipate and look forward with hope.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

* "Isaac was the son of the promise.  So he receives the primary inheritance, which includes not only Abraham’s considerable wealth in flocks and the burial site, but also the covenant promise.   Abraham secured Isaac’s inheritance in the land by dispossessing (we hope generously!) his children by Keturah, just as he had dispossessed Ishmael." -Dwelling in the Word

• (STEP)BROTHERS REUNITED. I noticed that Ishmael and Isaac came together for this once in a lifetime event, the death and burial of their father, in the cave of Machpelah (where Sarah was also buried).

* Bible Footnotes: Genesis 25:9 Isaac was seventy-five and Ishmael nearly ninety years of age when their father died. Jacob and Esau were fifteen, and may have been present.

* "Isaac and Ishmael, though destined for very different lives, share the responsibility for seeing that their father is properly laid to rest." -Dwelling in the Word

The long list of Ishmael's descendants (Arabs) were also recorded, as well as his age of death.

• ISAAC'S FAMILY. We then read a narrative, focusing about Isaac and Rebekah's family. It seems that God is in the work of building and strengthening His people's faith. Even though God has already promised and established His covenant, to Abraham and his descendants-- it doesn't mean that tests and trials won't come. Just as Abraham had to faithfully walk, pray and depend to God, we see that Isaac did the same thing as well. When his wife can't conceive, he prayed to God and God answered his prayer, according to His awesome powers and great plans. That's who God is, He wants us to know Him in this journey of faith, God wants our hearts to draw near to Him, more than anything.

* This is a great exhortation for everyone! "Husbands — your prayers for your wife have power!  Love her enough to pray for her daily, to pray for her fervently!" -Dwelling in the Word

• TWINS. God can even surpass our prayers, 2 kids in one pregnancy and delivery! Even while still inside the womb of their mother, the two babies are already struggling. This is very symbolic, and a great foreshadowing  as well of what's about to happen in the future. When Rebekah prayed and inquired of the Lord, it was revealed to her why..

The manner of delivery, and how the twins came out was interesting! Even at birth, Jacob seems to be wanting to be first, the firstborn. By grabbing his brother's heel, it's like he's saying, "Stop! Let me go first!"

* How true is this? Wow. "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 worshiped, Jacob would get excited." -Dwelling in the Word

• FRATERNAL TWINS? Jacob and Esau were not only physically different, but they were also different in their interests, hobbies, and skills. Thus, Esau was favored by his father, who loved eating his game from hunting in the outdoors; while Jacob was dear to his mother because of his being quiet and a peaceful man, just living in tents (possibly good in helping his mom too in doing household chores.) Also, Rebekah was given an insight by God that "the older shall serve the younger", did she even tell her husband Isaac about this? When you know such prophecy from God, it's hard not to favor the one who will be more favored by God.

* "The name Esau means “hairy,” while the name Jacob means “heel-catcher.”  That phrase carried negative connotations of “con-man” or “rascal.” -Dwelling in the Word

• LENTIL STEW. One day, Jacob had cooked a reddish-brown lentil stew, and here comes Esau who was very hungry. Hmmm, did Jacob set this up, or he was just very sneaky and he thought he will take advantage of the situation? Anyway, we read that Esau asked for some of the food, but Jacob told him “First sell me your birthright (the rights of a firstborn).” (v.31) To which Esau, rashly said,“Look, I am about to die [if I do not eat soon]; so of what use is this birthright to me?” (v.32) Surely, you'll not die and you're just over-reacting, Esau. It seems Esau does not give that much importance to being the "firstborn" as much as Jacob, because when Jacob asked to swear an oath (because he is dead serious about it), Esau did not think twice and he sold his birthright just like that. For a bowl of stew. 

It's hard to weigh on this situation who is right and who is wrong, but it seems to me, Esau cared more about the temporary satisfaction of the food, for he was hungry, instead of choosing to be more wise and protecting his birthright.

* Bible Footnotes: Genesis 25:31 In later times, this was the right of the firstborn to take over as head of the family and to receive a double share of the inheritance (cf Deut 21:17). The rewards given to Jacob appear to have been even greater (Gen 27:37). Furthermore, in Jewish tradition it was reported that before the tabernacle was set up, sacrifices were offered by the firstborn of a family.

* "Jacob knew that the birthright was valuable and he wanted it.  Passages like Deuteronomy 21:17 and 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 tell us the birthright involved both a material and a spiritual dynamic.  The son of the birthright received a double portion of the inheritance, and he also became the head of the family and the spiritual leader upon the passing of the father.  In the case of this family the birthright determined who would inherit the covenant God made with Abraham, the covenant of a land, a nation, and the Messiah." –David Guzik -Dwelling in the Word

• POINT TO JESUS (From Dwelling in the Word)

Hebrews 12:16 (New Living Translation) "Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal."

The following passage from Ephesians shows us our birthright, through Jesus Christ.  May we be careful so we do not despise it!

Ephesians 1:3-14 (New International Version)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love  he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—  to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace  that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,  he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,  in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."

Read the Bible here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25&version=AMP