Genesis 39

 

THE DEATH OF ABRAHAM

( Gen. 25:1-11 )

 

Introduction:

As the life of Abraham, the father of faith, which began in Genesis 12, ends in Chapter 25, a new generation is born. In chapter 25, Abraham, the ancestor of faith, dies, and the history of the chosen people is connected to his son Isaac, and he gains two sons. In particular, the genealogy mentioned here shows who the descendants of the covenant are and that lineages excluded from the covenant must be separated.

Here, we see a new trend in which the central figure in the history of redemption is replaced by Isaac from Abraham, and the succession goes further to Jacob. This chapter mentions the birth of Abraham's successors in life, Isaac and Ishmael, and the birth of six sons through Keturah who is Abraham’s second wife, who blossomed into fathers of nations, and among them, the appearance of Jacob and Esau, who were born in the family of Isaac, the children of promise.

 

Wise man must see three things well. We have to realize that clearly there is end of individual, end of the age and end of the earth. The death of Abraham teaches us many things. Let us see the principle through the death of Abraham.

 

 

* Principle through the death of Abraham.*

 

1. It teaches us that man’s life in this earth is stranger.

  1) Gen.47:9

  2) Isa.40:6-8

  3) Gen.4:16-26 The descendants of Cain.

    v.25 Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel,

      since Cain killed him."

   v. 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.

  4) Gen.5:6-32 From Seth to Noah.

  5) Gen.9:1-29 The descendants of Noah.

  6) In the bible there are many genealogies.

     - People of the covenant.

    - People without the covenant.

 

 

2. Brief personal record of Abraham.

  1) Rich man in Chaldea

  2) Gen.12:1-9 By God’s order he left Chaldea and arrive to Canaan.

  3) Gen.12:10-20 Transfer to Egypt.

  4) Gen.13:1-13 Comeback to Canaan.

  5) Gen.13:14-18 Separated from Lot because of many possessions.

  6) Gen.14:14-24 Win the war and get back all captives.

  7) Gen.15:1-6 Received Service Merit from God.

  8) Gen.16:1-16 He has Ishmael.

  9) Gen.18:1-4, 19:1-2 He entertained angles.

  10) Gen.18:22, 19:10 Intercession prayer.

  11) Gen.21:1-8 Birth of Isaac.

  12) Gen.22:1-13 He passed the test.  

 

 

3. Four purposes of God that God made us realize through the life of Abraham

  1) We must live for the kingdom of God. Humans are bound to die no matter how old they live. After death, a new life unfolds. In this life,

     the kingdom of God, which will be led by descendants after death, unfolds, and in the next world, the main body of the eternal kingdom of God,

     in which you will live forever, unfolds.

  2) Therefore, we must prepare to die on this earth. We must prepare for the kingdom of God for our descendants to live in, and we must prepare for

     the life after death that will live forever. When Abraham dies, his sons Isaac and Ishmael all come and bury Abraham. However, the main text of

     Genesis 25 focuses on the fact that he was buried in the cave of Machpelah. And it emphasizes that the cave was in a field bought from Ephron

     the Hittite. It is because the meaning of the field is so important. The reason Abraham bought the field was to create a bridgehead for

     his descendants to return to in the future.

  3) Abraham is preparing the kingdom of the covenant that will follow after his death by marrying Isaac and Rebekah. So Abraham risked his life

     and death to find a match for Isaac. It was for this reason that the first servant was sent after putting his hand under his thigh and making him

     swear an oath with his life as collateral.

  4) Abraham had many descendants, but Abraham's attention is focused on Isaac. Many sons can all receive the blessing of greatness, but only Isaac

     received the covenant. Through Isaac, the kingdom of God will be established in the future, and through Isaac, the Messiah will be born who will

    return all mankind to the kingdom of God. Abraham is preparing for the kingdom of God step by step at the point where there is not much time left

    before he will die of old age.

 

Conclusion:

Abraham's turbulent life journey has finally arrived at its final destination.

The death of Abraham signifies the death of the first generation of the covenant and at the same time the start of the successor to the new covenant.

Through the death of Abraham, we once again know that the subject of history is God, not man.

When Isaac's wife, Rebekah, was pregnant with a child, God had already prophesied about the children. It means that there are two peoples in the womb,

and the younger brother, the Jacob family, will be stronger than the older brother, the Esau family.

This prophecy, which has already been treated selectively from the womb, shows the principle of God's sovereign selection. Since God's selection is not

determined by human achievements, but based on a sovereign decision according to God's purpose, saved saints have nothing to boast about their merits,

only grace. Therefore, we will have to do our best in the mission assigned to us and in preaching the gospel.