Study From the Book of Genesis,25

Study From the Book of Genesis,25

Today we study chapter 25 of the Book of Genesis. I choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

The Hebrew phrase “Abraham again took Keturah” means that she was not Abraham’s second official wife. Instead, she was a concubine. As an unofficial wife, Keturah was probably with Abraham for living. Her sons had a status similar to that of Ismael, Abraham’s son from Hagar, but without Ismael’s particular blessings.

Midian the son from Keturah was the father of the Midianites, some of whom later bought Joseph from his brothers. As a legal firstborn, Isaac received the grand share of his father’s fortune; beyond that, he received the blessing of God.

The concubines were Hagar and Keturah. Abraham acted to protect Isaac’s inheritance before his death. He gave appropriate gifts to his lesser sons and sent them away. Abraham then died after a long life and the phrase “God gathered him to his people” indicates that there is an afterlife at death.

God blessed Isaac because He had already established an everlasting covenant with him. Later God renewed the covenant of Isaac in ch.26. God fulfilled His promises to Isamel. The descendants of Ismael had twelve princes to govern them, just as the Israelites were divided into twelve tribes.

The Hebrew verb for “pleaded” indicates that Isaac prayed passionately for his wife.  Isaac waited twenty years for God to grant his prayer. Rebekah’s pregnancy was difficult. It seems as though the two babies were competing in her womb. Rebekah prayed to the Lord. The Lord spoke directly to her that He chose to bless the younger. At birth the younger brother Jacob grasped his older brother Esau’s heel. The name of Jacob in Hebrew word means heel. Esau taut Jacob with the negative connotations of his name. Eventually God gave Jacob a new name Israel. Esau known as “Red” -that is the father of Edom.

Esau as a firstborn had a birthright to a double portion of the family estate. Moreover, he would inherit from Isaac the privilege of the everlasting covenant with God. However, Esau despised this inheritance and scorned God’s promises given to the heirs of Isaac.

Structure

Verses: 1-6:Abraham and Keturah.

Verses: 7-11: Abraham’s death and burial.

Verses:12-28: the families of Ismael and Isaac.

Verses: 29:34: Esau sells his birthright.

Principle 43: verse 25:21: ---“Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.”

Lesson 43: At many key points in Scripture, God grants a childless woman a family, often in response to prayer. Why saddle His people with such a difficult burden? Perhaps because brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness.

Principle 44: verse 25:34- “And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus, Esau despised his birthright.”

Lesson 44: In despising his birthright, Esau proved himself “profane” because he considered filling his empty stomach more important than the spiritual promises of God to Abraham.22/02.2026.