Gen. 25:11-1811And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi. 12Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: 13And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, 15Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: 16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. 17And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. 18And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren. (Genesis 25:11‑18)
“AND IT came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.” v. 11.
Our attention now is drawn more closely to Isaac, in whom all that had been Abraham’s was soon to be displayed and through whom God’s promises must be revealed. In like manner the believer now is drawn by the Holy Spirit to the Person of Christ, God’s Son, for it is through Him that all the counsels of God are made manifest and that salvation is brought to this poor world—to Jew and Gentile alike.
It is happy to see Isaac dwelling by the well Lahai-roi. This well received its name when God spared Hagar’s life in the wilderness (chapter 21). The name of this well not only meant, “The well of Him that liveth and seeth me,” but also conveys the thought of the well of “the living One who reveals Himself.” It is profitable then, to see Isaac and Rebekah dwelling in this place.
Christian friend, do you enjoy the sense of God seeing you and do you also enjoy that nearness to Christ who gives the “living water,” so that the love, providence and counsels of God are a daily portion for your joy? Only when dwelling in this nearness to Him can such pleasures be proved. Away from that source of refreshing, the conscience will not like the thought of God’s watching eye and the appetite for His things will certainly become dulled. May His redeemed be kept closer to Him who alone can deliver from this world’s contaminating influences. “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy.” Ps. 33:18.
A brief account of Ishmael and his family follows. His descendants, like those of Cain long before, “made their mark” in the world. Towns and castles were named after them, and from their number twelve princes arose to power and headed a variety of nations. What a tragic heritage this was! Pleasing to the eye and the pride of achievement, certainly, but no evidence of the fear of God marked the lives of these men and their families. Their determination to become great in the world led them farther away from God until eventually they were open enemies of those who feared the Lord.
Are we not reminded most solemnly in their history of the words of the Lord Jesus when He was here on earth: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Matt. 16:2626For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26). Beer indeed to be among those of whom it is said: “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?” James 2:55Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (James 2:5).
The paths of Ishmael and of Isaac are contrary one to the other. We do not read of their being together again until there is a conflict of interest between them. Ishmael died at the age of 137—about 47 years after the death of his father.
ML-05/08/1966