Abraham in Genesis 21-25:18

My journey through Genesis continues! These are the characters and situations I encountered in Genesis 21-25:18. And so I can continue with my trek through the Old Testament, and the REST of the Bible, a brief summary of the stories.

This online summary primarily serves as an academic exercise for me, but it may serve a purpose to others who are interested in Old Testament Literature, or at least, in seeing the lessons learned from these biblical accounts. Originally, I was going to post a more thorough discussion of these chapters, but my recap will have to do for now.

GENESIS 21-25:18

Genesis 21 – Abraham and Sarah have their promised son (Isaac). Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar, and Abraham’s other son (by Hagar), Ishmael, are sent away to wander in the desert of Beersheba.

It was recorded in Genesis 21:18 that God told Hagar to not worry; He heard the cries of the boy in the desert, and He would be with him and make him into a great nation.

Genesis 22 – God requires Abraham to offer a sacrifice; but requires the sacrifice to be his only son, Isaac. At the point of taking Isaac’s life, God provides a scapegoat as the sacrifice and Isaac is spared.

The lesson in this story is that God wants to see if Abraham fully trusts him. God does not really intend to harm the boy; this is an early foreshadowing of how God would send His one and only Son, Jesus, to be sacrificed on the Cross as the penalty for the sins of the world.

Genesis 23 – Abraham’s wife (Sarah) dies and Abraham purchases land in Canaan to bury her, which would also later be the burial place for himself, Isaac and Rebekah, Leah (not Rachel—she died on a journey), and Jacob.

Genesis 24 – Abraham requests his chief servant (in charge of his household) to go and find a wife for Isaac, not "from the daughters of the Canaanites...but...go to my country and my own relatives..."(v. 4). The servant prays and is led by God to find Rebekah, the granddaughter of Abraham's brother. The servant and Rebekah's family discuss if Rebekah should go, but then ask her what she thinks, and in the end, she decides to go with the servant to marry Isaac. In verse 67, we read that Isaac loved Rebekah, and he brought her into the (former) tent of his mother, Sarah (who had recently died), and he was comforted by having Rebekah as a companion and wife.

Genesis 25 – Abraham dies at the age of 175. Ishmael dies at the age of 137. It is recorded that he had 12 sons, which became 12 tribes; his descendants settled “from Havilah to Shur”, near the Egypt border. His sons are: Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. In 25:18, “And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.” Or, the NIV reads, “And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.”

Ishmael’s Sons (Genesis 25:12-18)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.25.12-Gen.25.18

Despite the previous resentment and jealousy between Sarah and Hagar, and consequently, Isaac and Ishmael, we find in Genesis 25:9, “His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him [together]…”. He was buried on the land which he purchased for Sarah’s burial, which would serve as a family burial ground again later.

Even after Abraham's death, a lesson is learned in the peaceful assembly of Isaac and Ishmael out of respect and custom to bury their father (25:9).

Asbury Bible Commentary on Genesis Patriarchal History:

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/asbury-bible-commentary/Patriarchal-History

 

 

Circumcision of the Heart

When Abram was 99, the Lord appeared to confirm his earlier covenant with Abram. He desired for Abram (and mankind) to "walk before Him and be blameless" (Genesis 17:1).

God declared that Abram would no longer be called Abram, “exalted father”, but Abraham, “father of many”. God also told Abraham to no longer call his wife, Sarai, “my princess”, but Sarah, “a princess”. She would be the mother of nations, beginning with her firstborn son, Isaac.

Abraham fell face down and laughed, thinking to himself, “Will a son be born to a man 100 years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of 90?” Having lived in Canaan for about 23 years, Abraham was still considered a foreigner, but God pledged to give this land to him and his descendants as an everlasting possession (Genesis 17: 7-8).

Then Abraham remembered his firstborn son Ishmael (from Hagar). He pled to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” God reassured Abraham that Ishmael would not be forsaken; he would be blessed and his descendants would increase in number. He would be the father of 12 rulers, and he would be made into a great nation. This covenant, however, would not be established through him; rather through Abraham and Sarah’s son, Isaac.

As an outward sign of the everlasting covenant made between Abraham and God, all the male members of Abraham’s household, including those to come in future generations, would be required to undergo circumcision. This act would be expected of every male at least 8 days old, including those bought with money from a foreigner. Any male, who would not circumcise the flesh, will have broken the covenant requirement and will be cut off from his people.

So on that very day, Abraham (age 99), Ishmael (age 13), and all other males in the household were circumcised. For Abraham to undergo this procedure (and require it of his entire household) signified his belief in the faithfulness and judgment of God.

It was not merely for physical reasons that circumcision was required. It was to show outwardly what had been pledged inwardly--a total submission and devotion to God. The cutting away and removal of flesh was symbolic of the cutting away and removal of fleshly desires (carnality) in the life of a person who is said to be godly, or righteous. This is symbolic of a "circumcision of the heart", by the Spirit of God.

This spiritual "circumcision of the heart" is available to all who walk in the footsteps of faith of Abraham (Romans 4:12, 20-25).