A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 25:1-18
Lesson #39
THE PATTERN OF LIFE
- Memory verse: Rom 3:29
- Read Gen 25:1-6 Abraham’s marriage to Keturah:
- The name, Keturah, means = “perfumed one”. She was Abraham’s mistress before he married her. (1Chr 1:32). She probably bore him children before he married her.
- Sarah had died in chapter 23. Abraham’s marriage to Keturah occurs after chapter 23 and before chapter 24.
- In chapter 24 we saw how Abraham was probably close to death when he sent his servant to find a bride for Isaac.
- Keturah bore Abraham 6 sons who became the ancestors of some of the north Arabian peoples who intermarried with the descendants of Ishmael and persecuted the Jews down through history.
- These 6 sons indicate that the healing of Abraham’s body for the birth of Isaac was a permanent healing by God.
- This section about Keturah and her relationship to Abraham seems to be out of chronological sequence historically.
- Whenever that happens, I always ask, “Why”, to see if there is a deeper meaning to the sequence by which the Holy Spirit has placed the context of the story.
- What significance is Abraham’s marriage to Keturah?
- Remember the chronology of prefigures in Genesis 21-24?
- The name, Keturah, means = “perfumed one”. She was Abraham’s mistress before he married her. (1Chr 1:32). She probably bore him children before he married her.
| The birth of Isaac | Genesis 21 | The birth of Christ |
| The offering of Isaac | Genesis 22 | The crucifixion of Jesus Christ |
| The purchase of a burial place for Sarah | Genesis 23 | The purchase of eternal life |
| The search for a bride for Isaac | Genesis 24 | The search for a bride (the church) for Christ |
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- In chapter 24 we saw how the search for a bride for Isaac prefigures the search for a bride for Christ. According to the New Testament, where does God find that bride for Christ? He finds it among the Gentiles, not among the Jews.
- The nation of Israel is called “the wife of God “ (Jer 3:20). Sarah is, therefore, a picture of the nation of Israel.
- God, however, looks for the bride for Christ among the Gentiles pictured by Keturah. (Rom 9:25-33 Rom 11:7-11)
- Notice that Keturah’s name means “perfumed one”.
- 2Cor 2:15 indicates that believers in Christ are a sweet savor (a sweet perfumed smell) to God.
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Keturah Prefigures the Gentile Bride of Christ
| Keturah is not the first wife of Abraham Gen 25 | Gentiles were not the first choice of God Rom 1:16 |
| Sarah died and was no longer the wife of Abraham
Gen 23 |
The Jews as a nation are blinded by spiritual sleep
Joh 12:40-42 |
| Keturah means “perfumed one” | The Gentile bride of Christ is a sweet smell to God
2Cor 2:15 |
| Keturah produces 6 sons whose descendants persecute the Jews | 6 is the number of man, fallen short of the glory of God. Gentiles who are not true believers through history have persecuted Jews. |
- According to Gen 25:6 Abraham gave gifts to all his sons, but the bulk of his estate went to Isaac, the son of the promise.
- Read Gen 25:7-11 The death of Abraham
- Ishmael, who had previously been sent away (Gen 21), evidently returned for the death of Abraham. The presence of other sons is not mentioned.
- Abraham was 175 years old when he died.
- He lived 38 years after Sarah’s death.
- They buried him in the cave of Machpelah where Sarah was buried.
- We have a case for life after death based on verse 8.
- “gathered to his people” = this phrase does not mean Abraham was buried in the ground where his ancestors were buried.
- We know according to Gen 23 Sarah was the only one buried in the cave at Machpelah.
- It, therefore, means Abraham joined his dead ancestors waiting for the resurrection. (1Cor 15:20-26,51-54)
- The well at Beersheba called “Lahairoi”
- Remember that this is the well Abraham dug. There was a disagreement with King Abimelech over this well in Gen 21:22-34
- The well is also mentioned in Gen 24:62 Gen 25:11.
- What spiritual significance is the well to Isaac’s life?
- It shows us that Isaac made a decision to follow in Abraham’s footsteps of faith. The name of the well meant = “the place where the oath was made”.
- A review of Abraham’s life:
- Abraham is called the father of faith. (Rom 4:16 Gal 3:29)
- Abraham’s experiences with God parallel our own experiences with God.
| Abraham was a lost sinner surrounded by idolatry who did not know God. | We are all lost sinners surrounded by idolatry who do not know God.
Rom 3:23 Eph 2:11 |
| God appeared to Abraham and called him to the promise land. Act 7:2 | God manifests himself to us by the illumination of the Holy Spirit to call us to the saving knowledge of God. Joh 15:26 Joh 16:8-15 |
| Abraham separated himself from heathen idolatry to follow God. | Believers are separated from heathen idolatry to follow Christ. 2Cor 6:16-18 |
| Abraham’s response to God was at times slow and partial. | We often hesitate in faith and obedience. |
| Abraham left the Promised Land in time of famine doubting God’s provision. | We often turn to the world for answers in times of emergency, doubting God’s provision. |
| Abraham waited for God to fulfill the promise of a son, but his patience came to an end and he had a son with Hagar. | We wait for God to fulfill his promises to us. Often we lose patience and work things out in our own human wisdom. |
| God was still faithful to Abraham even though Abraham failed God. | God is still faithful to us even when we often fail God. 2Tim 2:13 |
| Abraham, near the end of his life, faithfully passed the supreme test of faith by offering up Isaac. | God often tests believers regarding their faith and obedience to God. The longer we walk with God, the stronger in faith we become. |
Read Gen 25:12-18 Genealogy of Ishmael
- The 12 princes of Ishmael’s descendants are a fulfillment of the prophecy given by God in Gen 17:20. (16)
Homework
Genesis 25:19-34
- Application of Gen 25:1-18
- If you have never done so, write the major events of your life since accepting Christ, and see how they parallel Abraham’s life.
- Preparation for Gen 25:19-34 Isaac and his 2 sons
- List the points of the prophecy in Gen 25:23
- Make a chart of the personal relationships in this passage as follows:
| Isaac | Rebekah | Esau | Jacob | |
| Attitude: | ||||
| Action: |
- What was the birthright and why do you think the birthright was so important?
- Esau is also a prefigure or type. Read Heb 12:16-17 and decide of whom he is a type?
- Memory verse: Mat 16:26
