The beginning of Genesis 25 is very likely not the chronological continuation of chapter 24, the chapter which ended with the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca. Often, those who explain this chapter say that after Isaac was married, Abraham needed help. He then married Keturah, whose name means "perfume." The Lord gave him new vitality, according to the promise of chapter 17, and so he received another six sons from this marriage.

Although nothing is too wonderful for the Lord, other commentaries contain several objections against this thought. It is true, Isaac was a child of old age, but many authors do not believe that this is true of these children of Keturah. The first objection against it is that, if we accept the chronological order of the chapters, Abraham by now had become 137 years old. In the remaining thirty-eight years of his life he would yet beget six sons, whom he sent away before his death (verse 6).

Here it also speaks of the sons of the concubines, in the plural. Therefore the thought of many commentators is that besides Sarah, his real wife, Abraham also had the concubines Keturah and Hagar. In Romans 4:18-21 it is written that he was persuaded that the Lord would fulfil His promise through Sarah. His marriage with the concubines was according to the provisions in the Law of Hammurabi, according to Rev. J. C. Sikkel. Abraham did according to the customs of his days (Exodus 21:7-11; Deuteronomy 21:10-17).

So we conclude that it is possible that what is written in verses 1-6 had taken place before chapter 24. From these children have come forth the Arabic tribes. Although Israel was separated from all other nations of the world, here we see that Israel had bonds of blood with many nations. It is the same with the church. They are not of the world, but still they are in the world. They have also natural bonds with the children of the world, in which they have the task to speak well of the Lord and to be an example. At the same time there is the great danger that we mix with the world, as we see in the history of Israel. We see the same also in our days: so many young individuals and families who are raised under the truth have broken with their religious tradition.

Isaac received all Abraham's possessions, but the children of the concubines received a gift and were sent away to the east country, that is, the land east and southeast of the land of Canaan. This shows that Isaac was privileged above the others. These children were mature; they were not sent away with their mother, as had been done to Ishmael. So they must have been old enough to take care of themselves.

Abraham had put all these things in order before his death. We would say he had made his will, or testament, so that later there would be no disorder. So often in our days there is disorder regarding an inheritance. It should not be so among us. Parents should take care of these matters, not because we think we are able to rule after our death, for that we have to leave in the hands of the Lord, but we must take steps for the welfare of the widow or children who remain. Of course, we may also remember church and school, especially when there are great needs, as there are in some congregations and school societies.

The patriarch acted according to divine revelation, because Isaac had to be the heir. By this action the separation ordered by the Lord was further extended. First, Abraham was called and separated from his country and family. Then Lot left him and lived in Sodom. Now the separation came between Abraham's descendants. This shows divine election. The Lord chooses whom He will, and He rejects whom He will. This does not mean that divine mercy is taken away from all nations except Israel, because the Lord had promised him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." A remnant will be saved from all nations.

Abraham's age is also mentioned; he became 175 years old. He died in a good old age. He had become an old man and was full of years. This is, according to Scripture, a great privilege. When we read of the life given to Abraham, then we should not think first about all the tribulations and difficulties, but of the blessings which the Lord had bestowed upon him. They were manifold.

Moses mentions Abraham's age. Soon after the fall man reached the age of more than 900 years. Enoch became 365 years old, while Moses was "only" 120 years old; but then the Lord set the life span of man between 70 and 80 years. This is still the average time of grace we receive, although in centuries past it has been much less. It was a blessed age which the Lord gave to the father of the faithful. Solomon says, "The hoary head is a crown of glory" (Proverbs 31:16).

When we look back on the life of Abraham, then we must say that he walked in the way of righteousness. This is not to praise man; this was only possible by the grace of God. By faith he left the land of his nativity and went with Sarah to an unknown country. Truly, he was a stranger on earth, who did not really feel at home in any place. He was a stranger among men also, because he was so different, since he served the living God.

He walked in the ways of righteousness, in the righteousness of Christ, whose day he saw from afar. He saw Him with the eye of faith and rejoiced in Him. This faith gave direction to his life and was visible in his conduct, in word, and in deed. In Hebrews 11 time and again he is mentioned as a hero of faith. After a life spent in the service of the Lord, he gave up the ghost, as it is written of Stephen, but also of the Lord Jesus.

Each word the Lord had spoken to Abraham was fulfilled. Now he was gathered to his people. The same is written of Ishmael (verse 17), of Isaac (Genesis 35:29), and of Joseph (Genesis 49:50). For Abraham to die was to move from the midst of a nation which were not his people to those whom the Lord has chosen out of all nations of the earth. They are Abraham's people, his brethren. It was according to God's promise that he would go to his fathers. Abraham came to the city which has foundations.

Some authors explain the words, "He was gathered to his people," differently, namely, to mean that he was united with the members of his family in the realm of the dead. This is not according to Scripture, because then there would not be a twofold end, of the just and the wicked. God brings together that which belongs together. Christ gathers His people, of which Abraham was a living mem­ber, out of all nations of the world by Word and Spirit. Abraham is the ancestor of the believers, who once will be carried into his bosom. He is not the head of the church, which is Christ, but he is the father of all them that believe, as God's Word calls him.

All people will go one and the same way (Ecclesiastes 12:7). We may be called to bury a dear one, but the time of death is also coming for us. We must be a spiritual child of Abraham to travel to the same destination. We may receive an honorable funeral, but to meet a holy and righteous God we cannot miss the previous work of the Lord in our heart and the application of the merits of Christ. Our youth is the best time to seek the Lord, but when we are old, then it is not yet too late. But we must hasten for our life's sake.

The sons of Abraham in brotherly unity brought their father to his last resting place on earth. Only Isaac and Ishmael are mentioned as the sons of Abraham; the sons of Keturah, as of a lower rank, are not mentioned. It sounds strange to us, but we must see it in the light of those days. It seems that Ishmael did not live too far from Hebron, so he could be informed of and attend the funeral of his father. It is evident that Ishmael yet regularly visited his old father. We know that Abraham also loved Ishmael. Even when the separation had come according to God's commandment, then still the bond of blood remained and drew them to each other. And so it was also with the gentle Isaac, who informed his half-brother of the sickness or coming death of Abraham. Often death brings that together which cannot come together during life.

These two men were representatives of two worlds: the Jews and the Arabs. Even now they are so divided that peace in the Middle East is a cause for concern. The origin of the division was Ishmael's mocking, but here death brought them together again. It is always good to seek reconciliation when it is not against God's Word. We know that life is short. In the light of eternity, personal differences shall fall away. The Lord calls for unity and love for each other, which is not always possible when there are different lifestyles. If we would heed the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, then we would not see so much division in the church, in the families, and among friends. Many times it is about little things, mostly money, or about an inheritance, which brings separation in a family. And the devil rejoices when he sees the fighting which takes place.

Father Abraham was buried; he was not cremated, which was done by some heathen nations, but also in our days. This is not according to God's Word; as the Lord said, man was taken out of the dust and shall return to the dust. Only criminals were burned in Israel, as we know of Achan. It is an honor if we may be buried and our family be present. The Bible speaks also of the burial of an ass (Jeremiah 22:19), which was a curse. The developments of our days show that we are returning more and more to heathendom.

In Job 3:17-18 we read, "There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor." Abraham was laid to rest in his family grave at the side of Sarah. There also Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah would be buried.

His body remained in the grave, but the soul of the father of the faithful went into the rest which is promised to God's people, into the place of honor, where he and his spiritual children sit at the round table to receive what the Lord has prepared for them. We are not able to describe what the Lord has laid in store for them, but it is an inexpressible good which awaits all God's children. Now Abraham might see Him for whom he had been longing, the true seed of Abraham. We have no doubts about this for Abraham, but it should be the main question in our life as to what our destination will be. God's children are not seekers of heaven, but they look at moments for communion with the Lord. At times they may have a foretaste of it, but the fulfilment, to be always with the Lord, must wait until the day of death. There they will praise the Name of the Lord for ever.

The bodies of Sarah and Abraham rest in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. In Hebrews 11:13 we read, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them." They did not receive the fulfilment of the promise, but in life and death they held fast to the promise the Lord had given. So they lived and so they died, with the cry of faith, if not on their lips, then still in their heart, "I have waited for Thy salvation, O LORD" (Genesis 49:18). The dust of both is together in the grave, but in heaven they are united in one accord with all the saved to praise the Lord for ever.

This is not the end of the history of Abraham. No, one more text must be explained, which deals with the blessing of Isaac. This history may not end before it is mentioned that God's work did not end with the death of Abraham, but that it continued in Isaac's life, as the poet has said:

The covenant made in days of old
With Abraham He doth uphold.

Isaac received the whole inheritance of his father. The people who agree with the communists, that all things belong to the state, will not be happy with these words, because Scripture shows that their thought is not the thought of God.

Ishmael did not choose the promised land as his habitation, but he lived in Assur. Here the ways of the two sons definitely separated. Isaac inherited the land the Lord had promised, but he also inherited the promise of the Lord that out of his generation the Messiah would be born.

Here we see God's sovereignty. The Lord shows mercy to whom He will and hardens whom He will. When the choice of Ishmael is our choice, then we will live like him and die like him, which leads to eternal rejection by the Lord. But blessed is the people who may be co-heirs with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Questions:⤒🔗

1. Search in the Bible for the descendants of Abraham and Ketura. Which of these sons became significant nations or tribes in history?
2. What does God's Word say about old age? Mention a few texts. Compare them with the thoughts of our days, for example, with the ideas about euthanasia.
3. Tell about the funeral of Abraham. In what ways are the practices of our days condemned?
4. What is the significance of verse 11?