Title [Genesis 25:19-26] Abraham and Isaac
Genesis 25 records the death of Abraham and the blessings received by his successor Isaac. Let's take a look at this and share the grace.
1. Abraham's End
Abraham lived happily ever after until he died. First of all, he lost Sarah at the age of 137 and had a second wife, Gedura, and had six sons. As such, health and longevity is a blessing from God. Among his sons was an ancestor of the Midianites named Midian. It is a nation that later often clashed with the house of Israel. Among these many children, Abraham distributed the property to all of his children for Isaac, who was to be the source of blessing in the future, and he had them leave Isaac's side. He gave all that he had to Isaac so that he could do God's will. I think it is very wise to sort out the problems of your children while they are still alive. Eventually, he died at the age of 175 and was buried by Isaac and Ishmael. The last day will come for everyone. It is wise to prepare for the day in advance. We hope that we will become wise saints who always prepare and live spiritually and physically.
2. Isaac who inherited the blessing of Abraham
God told Abraham that he would be a source of blessing and that all peoples under the heavens would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 22:18). He had appointed Isaac as the successor of that blessing. And it is recorded that Jacob was born, who would get the name of Israel from Isaac. Thus, after Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac (11). Now let's look at Isaac.
①Isaac is a man of thorough obedience. Even when his father Abraham tried to offer himself as a burnt offering, he did not reject or resist, and he completely obeyed the word of God he had heard through his father. In this way, God honors those who obey in faith.
③ People who believed in God's promises and kept them in their hearts. Isaac heard from his father that it would be the source of God's promised blessing, and he believed that promise and always kept it in his heart, and later inherited this promise to Jacob (Genesis 28:3-4). Faith must be passed on from generation to generation. It is the job of people of faith to believe and wait for the blessed promises given to their ancestors, and to deliver those promises to their descendants. Through them, God inherits spiritual blessings. May we have this life like Isaac.
④ There was also the disadvantage of showing favoritism toward children. Esau grew up to be a accustomed hunter, and Jacob was a quiet man, so he mostly stayed at home. Naturally, Isaac fell in love with Esau and Rebekah fell in love with Jacob. This favoritism was the cause of the conflict between Esau and Jacob. You need to know how much parental favoritism affects children. In addition, we must become parents who love and nurture their children without partiality. We earnestly hope that we will learn the life of obedience, prayer, and confidence in the Word from Isaac and become faithful saints who inherit the blessings that God has promised.