Abraham's Family (Genesis 25)

Sibling rivalry can drive families apart, causing people to leave town, the farm, the business, the country. It doesn’t help when parents take sides. How do we navigate the delicate balance between our children? Let’s look at Abraham’s family in Genesis 25.

Did Abraham remarry after the death of Sarah?

Abraham married another wife, named Keturah. The children she bore him were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s sons were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Enoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were Keturah’s sons. Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac. To the sons of Abraham’s secondary wives, Abraham gave gifts and, while he was still living, sent them away from his son Isaac to land in the east. (Genesis 25:1-6 CEB)

How old was Abraham when he died?

Abraham died at the ripe old age of 175. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him east of Hebron in Machpelah Cave that was part of the field Abraham had bought from Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. Abraham was buried there beside his wife Sarah. God blessed Isaac after this, and Isaac moved to a place called “The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.” (Genesis 25:7-11 CEV)

What happened to Ishmael (Yishmael) and his descendants?

Here is the genealogy of Yishma‘el, Avraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian woman bore to Avraham. These are the names of the sons of Yishma‘el, listed in the order of their birth. The firstborn of Yishma‘el was N’vayot; followed by Kedar, Adbe’el, Mivsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Teima, Y’tur, Nafish and Kedmah. (Maftir) These are the sons of Yishma‘el, and these are their names, according to their settlements and camps, twelve tribal rulers. This is how long Yishma‘el lived: 137 years. Then he breathed his last, died and was gathered to his people. Yishma‘el’s sons lived between Havilah and Shur, near Egypt as you go toward Ashur; he settled near all his kinsmen. (Genesis 25:12-18 CJB)

What was Isaac’s prayer? What was Rebekah’s prayer?

These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. (Genesis 25:19-22 ESV)

What was God’s response to Rebekah?

And the Lord said to her: Two nations are in your womb; two people will come from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger. (Genesis 25:23 HCSB)

What happened at the birth?

Sure enough, when her due date arrived, she delivered twin sons. The first son came out reddish—his entire body was covered with hair—so they named him Esau. After that, his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau’s heel, so they named him Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born. (Genesis 25:24-26 ISV)

Did Esau treat his birthright lightly?

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom [Red]. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:27-34 KJV)

Sibling rivalry can drive families apart, causing people to leave town, the farm, the business, the country. It doesn’t help when parents take sides. How do we navigate the delicate balance between our children? What about the rivalry between churches? You decide!