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The Plan3 - PAGE 20 |
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The Plan3 - PAGE 20
ON THIS PAGE LESSON #1 Sons of Abraham and Keturah... Ge.25:1-18 LESSON #2 Jacob and Esau... Ge.25:19-34 <><><><><><><><><><><><><> LESSON #1 Sons of Abraham and Keturah... Ge.25:1-18 Tue. Aug. 19, 2003 THE RECORD The record we find in Gen. 25 tells us about Abraham's wife, Keturah and his sons, through his relationship with her. Though some have said that Keturah was another name for Hagar, it does not seem likely, since the Scriptures seem to differentiate between the two women. THE TIME OF KETURAH We do not read about Keturah until after the death of Sarah, at the end of Abraham's life. Though there is no clear statement of Scripture concerning the time of Keturah, it is probable that Abraham took her as concubine or wife some time before the birth of Isaac. The reason for believing this is the fact that before Isaac was born, Abraham was an aged man and not likely to produce any children, even then. However, there were several children as a result of the union between Abraham and Keturah. The reason this part of Abraham's life is not reported earlier is because Keturah and her children are not part of the redemptive record or lineage. This information is collateral and is given at this place in order to tell us the origin of various tribes which would later have an impact on the Israelites and other Biblical issues. KETURAH'S SONS The following is a list of these sons and where they settled. ZIMRAN Zimran possibly settled west of what is now known as Mecca. JOKSHAN Jokshan was the father of Shebah and Dedan, and they appear to have settled in what we would call Arabia. MEDAN, ISHBAK, SHUAH Medan, Ishbak and Shuah are mentioned, but little or nothing more is known about them. MIDIAN Midian is a well known name. It is not only the name of this son of Abraham, it is the name of the descendents of this offspring and the name the region which they inhabited. Eventually the Midianites came under the judgement of God and were wiped out. It is true that most of Abraham's sons seem to have taken a different spiritual direction than Abraham, but it is not unreasonable to believe Abraham's faith would have been communicted to one or more of his descendents. One of the descendents of Abraham through his son Midian, was a man by the name of Jethro who lived in the days of Moses. Jethro, who became the father in law of Moses, seems to have either learned something from his family concerning the God or Abraham or he came to an understanding while in the presence of Moses. Men of Faith Jethro was a priest of Midian. It appears that Jethro had some grasp of spiritual truths. It could be that Jethro was a believer in the true and living God, much like Abraham had been while as yet living in Ur of the Chaldee. Abraham came from a part of the world which was filled with paganism, yet he was a believer in the true and living God. Another follower of the true and living God, in the days of Abraham was Melchizedek, the Prince and Priest of Salem. Abraham even encountered expressions of true faith in the Pharoah of Egypt and Abimelech of Gerar (Abimelech likly being a title of authority). There also seemed to be some true faith in Abimelech in the days of Isaac as well. And the one man of faith, about whom there is no doubt, Job, lived in those patriarchal times. In the book of Job, some of the descendents of Keturah are seen as the enemies of Job. The names of Job's neighbors, place Job geographically. Remember, though Job was a rigtheous man, thus a man in a right relationship with God, he was not part of the main storyline found in the Old Testament narrative. He does not have any interaction with any of the main characters of the Scriptures. If Job, living somewhat removed from other believers, could have an up-to-date and victorious relationship with God, it is reasonable to think that Jethro could have had one as well. At any rate, when Moses recounted to Jethro the deliverance of Israel from Pharoah, Jethro rejoiced and praised God. *********** And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God. Ex.18:8-12 *********** From this part of the Holy Record, we see that Abraham also had grandchildren. As we study and follow these names through the Bible and secular history, we learn more about them. What we learn from this particular passage is that Abraham made Isaac heir of all that he had, but he gave gifts to his other sons. After giving them gifts, he sent them "eastward in to the east country." Thus we see the populating of Arabia with the offspring of Abraham. Not only was the concubine Hagar a problem for Sarah, and Ishmael a problem for Isaac, all of the descendents of Keturah's sons, along with Ishmael's descendents, became a problem for Abrhaham's descendents and eventually to the whole world. Our choices affect us. Our choices affect our families. Our choices affect our world. Our choices affect our now. Our choices affect our tomorrow. Our choices affect our forever. MAKE YOUR CHOICES CAREFULLY. Had Keturah's sons followed the God of Abraham, they would have been a great blessing to the world. But the world now suffers because the Arab world follows the false god, Allah, and believes the false scriptures of the Koran and trusts in the false prophet, Mohammed. This is why we constantly are called to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God/god we follow will determine our destiny ************************* LESSON #2 Jacob and Esau... Ge.25:19-34 Tue. Aug. 19, 2003 The record of the Messianic line resumes with the birth of Jacob to Isaac and Rebekah. A GREAT BEGINNING Isaac and Rebekah had been brought together through prayer. On the day of their first meeting, Isaac had been in the field, meditating. Isaac loved Rebekah and they began their life together. They were approaching twenty years of marriage and still had no children. It would appear that the promise of God might go unfulfilled. To their credit, Isaac and Rebekah did not resort to sinful steps to bring a child into the world. As a matter of fact, Rebekah asked Isaac to seek God for her to be able to bear a child. God heard the prayer and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. TWO NATIONS Rebekah sought God because she was experiencing such a struggle within her between the twins. God explained to her that there were two nations and two manner of people within her. He also told her that the elder would serve the younger. This, of course, would be contrary to the normal scheme of events. The elder son was expected to become the head of the family and clan at some point. However, God clearly said that the younger would become the head of the family. When the time of birth arrived, the two were born into the world safely. The firstborn was hairy and was accordingly named Esau. Clinging to Esau's heel was the second born, Jacob, whose name also reflects the circumstances of his birth. Not only did Jacob enter this world riding on his brother's effort, he lived his life taking advantage of other people throughout his life. TWO BROTHERS Esau developed as an outdoorsman while Jacob preferred the comforts of the indoors. Jacob was not only smooth, as far as body hair was concerned, today he would be considered to be a smooth operator. I have no problem seeing Esau as the rough and tumble boy who made his way in life by using his physical strength, while Jacob was a schemer who would maneuver people and swindle them out of their goods. He used his cunning on several occasions to get what he wanted. Apparently the faith which was so evident in his grandfather and in his father was not finding residence in his own heart and life. He resorted to his own form of carnal power. JACOB GETS THE BIRTHRIGHT The first time we see Jacob using his wiles to gain an advantage, other than at his birth, was when his brother Esau came to him in a state of extreme hunger. Remember, Esau was a hunter. Esau had been out in the field at some point, but as often happens with hunters, he came up empty. We also know that Esau was a good cook, at least with the game he would bag. However, when Esau had been out in the field for an extended period of time and caught nothing, he became hungry to the point of death. He happened across his brother Jacob. Jacob and Esau may have been taught to be loving brothers, only to choose their own way of life. Whether or not they had been raised to do the right thing doesn't matter at this point. Jacob took advantage of his brother's weakened condition and difficult circumstances and traded him a pot of beans for his "birthright." Esau did not appreciate the valuable position he had been given and all of its attending priveleges, and therefore was willing to sell it for a mess of beans. THE BIRTHRIGHT The "birthright" was the legal right to certain priveleges in the family. The birthright ususally would belong to the firstborn. This included being the priest of the family, a double portion of the family inheritance and he was the next in line to be the head of the family. These were important and valuable spiritual as well as material advantages for the firstborn. Since Esau did not prize this as he should have, he was willing to treat it lightly and therefore traded away his birthright. DISPISING SPIRITUAL THINGS We may not understand from what we read here, but Esau had no desire for the spiritual blessings which accompanied the birthright. He was a man of sensual drives and pleasures. He did not appreciate what was available to him in the future, as the firstborn. According to the New Testament, Esau dispised the birthright. He did not count it worth having. How many others have been promised the blessings of God and then traded them in for a mess of beans. The lasting treasures of eternity are exchanged for the passing pleasures of the moment. That which can only be seen by faith, yet will last forever, is traded away for that which can be seen, smelled, felt, heard and enjoyed in the fleeting now but will be forgotten forever. Too many love the things of this world, rather than God and the joys of heaven. Too many want the pleasures of sin for a season, rather than the eternal reward promised to those who remain true. We see the same dynamics at work in "The Rich Young Ruler" of Jesus day. He was told what he must do to inherit eternal life, and then he went away grieved, because he had much goods. How much pleasure do you think those "goods" are bringing him today, in a devils hell? Just as the rich man lived sumptuously everyday but died in his sins and woke up in hell. It was then that he lifted up his eyes, being in torment and cried out for a drop of water to soothe his suffering. Now he suffers the pangs of hell forever. Was it worth it? Is it worth it? Will it be worth it? NO! NO! A TRILLION TIMES NO! CHOOSE THE BETTER THING We need to choose Whom we will believe, follow and obey. We need to choose the direction we will go with our lives. We need to choose carefully. OUR CHOICE WILL DETERMINE OUR ETERNITY |
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