January 10 A READ GENESIS 25–26
Isaac’s Family and Fortune
OVERVIEW
Isaac’s family, though presented only briefly in the book of Genesis, is immensely significant. Through Isaac God’s promise to Abraham continues to unfold: “I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father” (26:3). Born to Isaac are twin sons, who would later be the fathers of twin nations: Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom).
MY DAILY WALK
List everything you know about the life of Isaac. Then compare it with the following paragraph.
Isaac was Abraham’s son, Rebekah’s husband, and Jacob and Esau’s father. He imitated his father and was tricked by his son. He dug a few wells. He generally did what God told him to do without much fanfare.
How would you like your epitaph to read: “He generally did what God told him to do”? There’s not much glamour in quiet faithfulness, but as far as God is concerned, it’s more important than just about anything else. Maybe that’s one reason Isaac gets equal billing with his father and son every time God identifies himself as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Has the Lord assigned you a supporting role that escapes the notice of the crowd? Not everyone can function without applause, but apparently God knows that you can by his grace. Thank God for the privilege of serving him, and ask him for that same steadfastness of spirit.
FAITHFULNESS IN LITTLE THINGS IS A BIG THING.
INSIGHT
Abraham’s Life—Filled to the Brim | Gen. 25:8
The original Hebrew text of Genesis 25:8 can be translated, “Then Abraham . . . died in a good old age, an old man and full.” When Abraham breathed his last, he was full, not only of years, but also of valuable life experience. He had faced trials and temptations that grew his character, he had achieved victories and prosperity, and he had received reminders that God’s promises to his posterity would surely come to pass.
INSIGHT
Miracle Births | Gen. 25:21
The patriarchs’ wives—Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel—after facing years of humiliating barrenness, finally each conceived through the miracle-working power of God. Mary, the mother of Jesus the Messiah, also experienced a divinely arranged conception. Her Son has partially fulfilled—and will one day completely fulfill—the prophecy given to Rebekah in Genesis 24:60: “May your descendents be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies.”
The Death of Abraham
1Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. 4Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were all descendants of Abraham through Keturah.
5Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac. 6But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac.
7Abraham lived for 175 years, 8and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. 9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. 10This was the field Abraham had purchased from the Hittites and where he had buried his wife Sarah. 11After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi in the Negev.
Ishmael’s Descendants
12This is the account of the family of Ishmael, the son of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant. 13Here is a list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael’s descendants: The oldest was Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled and camped. 17Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. 18Ishmael’s descendants occupied the region from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur. There they lived in open hostility toward all their relatives.*
The Births of Esau and Jacob
19This is the account of the family of Isaac, the son of Abraham. 20When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.
21Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The LORD answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. 22But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. “Why is this happening to me?” she asked.
23And the LORD told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”
24And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins! 25The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau.* 26Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob.* Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.
Esau Sells His Birthright
27As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. 28Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. 30Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”)
31“All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”
32“Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”
33But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.
34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.