CLOSING EVENTS

GENESIS 25 CLOSING EVENTS The life of Abraham before the death of Sarah teaches us that faith embraces the truth of God in many different ways. Where we live, what work we do, how we respond to opinions of people, are taught as we go through the life of Abraham. What we should do when our brothers and sisters in Christ are in danger of making bad choices and choosing to associate with the wrong kind of people, are seen in the faith-life of Abraham. The promises of God were not questioned by him because of his faith in the all- wise God. How to wait with patience is also illustrated in this man’s life.

Abraham had embraced the covenant God made with him, and following his story, Isaac introduces us to a different kind of life. The life of sonship is unique because everything of value that he had and enjoyed, was his by inheritance. He had to learn the value of sonship and how to live before God in a whole different way from that of his father. As Abraham went into the final stage of his life, we learn of sons he had by Keturah. This took Abraham into an area of fruitfulness in which the practical truths of life and godliness were learned. He began his life with God by faith in God. The principles of practical truth do not come by the law (Hagar), or by promise (Sarah). The practice of divine truth in the lives of God’s people as the family of God, is a testimony to the value of each believer being an earthly representative of our Lord. The things we do are not what make us acceptable to God, but to those around us. Faith in Christ alone is what we need to be accepted in the Beloved. The conduct of the life of believers, reflects on the reality of our faith in day-by-day living.

Characteristics of Abraham His faith was evident from the time he first took God at His word in Ur of the Chaldees and was seen through the many dramatic events in his life. At the end of his life, he was still the man God blessed in everything he did. His faithfulness was openly seen and expressed in his words and deeds as he moved consistently through a variety of situations, and for the most part, he was notably faithful to his God. His fear of God and honest and open reverence for God was a testimony to kings and servants. He never lost godly fear or allowed it to become a casual attitude toward the God he trusted and loved.

His fellowship with God led him through spiritual experiences with God personally that allowed him to have actual friendship with God. Even God Himself recognized Abraham as a friend.

The biblical record of Abraham The Old Testament record of Abraham includes fourteen chapters, indicating the importance of the man to us. The lessons the Holy Spirit wants us to learn from the account of his life and walk, are important. He entered into a covenant with God and God actually said, “I am the God of Abraham…” God spoke to Israel generations later and used the blessings He gave to Abraham as an example for His faithfulness to them. Moses and Elijah both prayed basing their prayers on the relationship God had with Abraham. Abraham is the only person recorded in the Old Testament who had the honor and privilege of being called “My friend,” by God Himself. How I long for God to be able to say of me. “I am the God of Gaius!”

In the New Testament we read of Abraham’s seed being the Messiah who would redeem Israel. His relation to the Jews was spoken of by both the Jews and the Lord Jesus. Four times he is mentioned in the Gospels and each time there is a different aspect of spiritual life that was the focus of the passage. A whole chapter in the book of Romans, teaches the subject of righteousness by faith, not works. His spiritual seed is considered in Galatians and his life of faith is illustrated in Hebrews eleven.

True life that is intended for us, has a number of important parts to it that can be learned through flowing God’s dealings with Abraham. Life’s greatest privilege is to be associated with God. God lifts us out of a life of sin and places us where He chooses, so that we are able to fulfill His divine will. Life’s most solid foundation is that a covenant has been made with those who put their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all involved in making our life meaningful, strong, peaceful and satisfying. The greatest glory in life that we can give to God is faithfulness to Him. Sincerity is far more important than success. Goodness is of much more value than the glory of man and holiness is more important than honor. “Well done” from our Lord has far greater worth than the praise of men.

A person who is consistent, humble and earnest in a life lived to the praise of God, cannot be compared in any way to a world-centered life. The secret to living a full and successful life is to live by faith. Trusting God, believing His word and resting on His promises, will bring satisfaction and joy to us. Receiving the blessings from God gratefully, responding with thanks, relying on Him in every situation, rejoicing in the Lord, reproducing the character of God and hopefully glimpses of the life of God, brings joy to our Lord. The degree of our faith in Him will guide and give purpose to all we do. Simple faith embraces each day and uses the blessings of daily life to bring honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The passing of Abraham When Abraham died, the spirit of faith and the truth to which it was joined by the outward evidence of his life, now passes in the historical account to the inward spirit of sonship in Isaac. We have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, and now is added to faith, knowledge and understanding. Our faith is in Christ, but we add to faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. We become children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, and now as responsible sons and daughters of God, we live “the life of vision” which is what “Lahai-Roi” means. When we drink from the water of this well, our spiritual vision is enlarged.

For Abraham, Bethel – the place of worship, and Hebron – the place of fellowship, were a great blessing. He was blessed to eat of bread and wine from Melchizedek, the king/priest of Salem where there was peace. Beersheba was the well of the oath and the covenant blessings received there were real to Abraham. At the well of “the life of vision,” Beer-Lahai-roi, is where we live in the good of things not seen. This is where the pure in heart see God and the hidden things of God.

Abraham, the man of faith, was richly blessed and matured to where “the Lord blessed him in everything he did.” Isaac, the promised son, move us on to the spiritual blessing that are unseen by almost everyone. Keturah’s sons by Abraham were given practical things that are associated with life, but by the time of the following generations, those things had deteriorated into form. Later, there was open opposition to divine sonship and truth.

ISAAC In the narrative of the patriarchs, Abraham is no longer a testimony to faith in his flesh. Faith is changed from an outward form. “Show me your faith by your works, into unseen evidence as Isaac takes leadership as the promised son. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Isaac possesses all the riches of unseen faith, but even that kind of faith has to be tested. For twenty years Rebekah is barren. Isaac desires a son to perpetuate the promise, but in his case, as in ours, God’s love sometimes withholds our desire for a purpose greater than ours.

Delays test our patience if we only consider them to be delays. We need to consider them to be times of learning and rest in which we are made aware of our own inability and God’s sufficient grace, when we are in the quietness of His presence. That often opens to us like a breath of fresh air, a joy that focuses on our God, and the springs of joy give us spiritual strength in spite of our weakness.

Isaac was perhaps comparing his own barrenness with the proliferating seed of Ishmael. There were no delays in Ishmael family as far as children being born. The flesh can quickly bring fruitfulness in our souls but it is not always good fruit. Anger, envy, falsehood all come hastily through our flesh and can soon become uncontrollable. Grace in the inner man that waits for God’s timing, will often cause the flesh to jump ahead with great activity which we think will please God. If it is done in the energy of the flesh, a big flurry of “spiritual activity,” may lead to opposition against that which is of the Spirit of God. Christendom is rampant with activity, but one wonders how much of it is of the flesh and how much is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Barrenness can cause grief and when it is removed, it can cause a lot of grief in other ways. We must rely on the promises of God to maintain spiritual balance in our lives. We are to “take up the cross” and follow our Lord, not go our own way. When we are near the cross, we are humbled and there we find our resources in our Lord and Savior. Spiritual truth should always be a living and active life- principle that shows itself in outward ways. Waiting on the Lord may not be dramatic or even known by others, but God knows and we know, that God will reveal His power and purpose when He knows we are in a spiritual condition to receive it.

God’s truth as it relates to sonship and consistent life in the family of God, enables us to learn more of what the new life we have means and what it contains. We are not always prone to rest in faith without some activity to make us feel we are useful. After the period of waiting, before long we realize God has been working in us all the time. Spiritual seed has produced life within our soul and spirit.

Two new lives appear in the narrative giving us the insight to know that personhood and character traits are in a child even before they are born. Even though Esau and Jacob were twins, there were essential differences in them while in Rebekah’s womb. The struggles between them began before birth. The flesh and the spirit of a person will always be at odds with each other. Only one can have the ascendency and that is not always the one who comes first. The carnal mind is at enmity with God and with the spiritual mind.

Esau, the twin who was born first, was favored by Isaac. He must have been outwardly manly and openly lovable and attractive in an earthly way. When a child has a gregarious personality when they are young, they are able to grab the attention they seek and become the focus of attention. Young children thrive on that and parents and relatives often are drawn to such a personality. As one gets older, that kind of attention seeking becomes offensive and people begin to back away from that narcissistic personality, and would rather see some humility.

Jacob, “a plain man,” was laid-back, apparently quiet in nature, while within him was a sly and calculating mind. He was waiting for the time to take advantage of another person for his own purposes without being out in the open about it. “Dwelling in tents” meant that he would be a favorite of his mother, sort of like we call, “a mother’s boy,” and had learned to cook and do household things that most young boys avoid. The vigorous activity of Esau, with the hunger that goes with that, provided Jacob the opportunity he was looking for. He would likely have been told by Rebekah that he would have the leadership in the family, and perhaps was seeking a way to usurp the authority of being the leader.

The birthright in ancient families was a very coveted and honorable position to have. The occasion Jacob had waited for was a circumstance in which he could take advantage to further his own plans. The lentils that slowly grow and are cooked slowly are patiently cared for, provides no dramatic story behind it like a hunt for wild game. The slow growth of plants that provide healthy food can truly satisfy the need of hunger, which a failed hunting trip can’t. Even though the taste of lentils is bland, when hunger is strong, “every bitter thing is sweet.”

Underneath the demand for food that Esau had, was a deeper problem. He “despised his birthright.” It didn’t seem to mean anything to him because he was living for the moment, not looking into the future. Contempt for the blessings and promises of God is characteristic of the flesh. Momentary pleasure and present satisfaction are more important than coming glory. Love for the Lord, fellowship with God’s people and all that is associated in a walk with the Lord, to the flesh is not important.

Isaac loved Esau and would want to bless the firstborn son. Even though we live in the spirit, we still love the flesh and its momentary gratification can claim our attention to the detriment of our spiritual wellbeing. Too many of God’s people are willing to settle for the meat that perishes rather than the steady diet of nourishing spiritual food that strengthens and maintains spiritual vigor and purpose in our lives. We learn from the steady supply of “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little,” and that is what remains with us. Not everything that is important is available to us in a short time. The birthright is of no importance to one who only lives for the moment. Its value will be evident in a future day when glory will be seen.

Esau is spoken of by Paul in Romans nine as a type and proof of Israel’s fall. The failure of the law to provide redemption is obvious. The law tells us what is wrong rather than how to make what is wrong, right before God. Sinners need to know the One who is the Redeemer from the curse of the law. He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.