Gen. 25:1-101Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. 3And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. 7And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. 8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. 9And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; 10The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. (Genesis 25:1‑10)
“THEN again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Kurah.” v. 1. This portion, in point of time, does not appear to immediately follow the story of Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage, but probably took place some years previously. Abraham lived 38 years after Sarah’s death and no doubt it was a comfort to have a companion during those years. Kurah bore six sons to him. Of these, only one—Midian—appears in later Bible history and his offspring became a constant source of trouble to Israel—much as Ishmael’s descendants did.
In all this there is a reminder that God’s purposes in Abraham were fused entirely upon his one son, Isaac, and that all His promises were to be unfolded through him alone. Now this is exactly the case with the divine story of God the Father and His Son, the One in whom He was “well pleased.”
“And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. But unto the sons of the concubines,... Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son,... unto the east country.” vv. 5, 6. We have here the extension of general blessing to other nations, though Isaac be heir of all. Abraham had the discernment to see that there must be no conflict with Isaac’s inheritance and place in God’s counsels, nor any compromise with others, even though they held a place of attachment to his natural heart.
It is instructive to see a parallel verse where this type is revealed; “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.” John 3:3535The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (John 3:35). If this is God’s appraisal of His beloved Son, should the reader not give special attention to it, and rove from every thought and expression all that in any way deprives the Lord Jesus of His rightful place? Anything that compromises His place cannot be honored of God and will rob the soul of enjoying the One who alone in God’s sight, is “All in all.”
“Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age [175 years]... And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field... which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.” vv. 8-10. As Isaac and Ishmael laid the body of their aged father to rest, we wonder what thoughts and expressions may have passed between them. Surely there was much in that life of faithfulness for them both to contemplate. We suppose that they spoke, too, of the hope the father must have often expressed to them of the place which by faith he looked forward to: “A city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Although not recorded here, Jacob and Esau, the sons of Isaac, were 15 years of age at this time and were quite likely present at that burial as well. It was a solemn time for each of these men, but if it produced exercise of conscience in Ishmael or in Esau, it was not long-lived, for each went his own way in this world and did not follow in the steps of Abraham. Isaac and Jacob, however, were led of God to take up the father’s pathway—although with many experiences of failure and sorrow, as shall soon be seen.
ML-05/01/1966