A Reminder of God’s Covenant
Genesis 25 is taught by Jerry Mongello.
[Genesis 25:1-9 NKJV] 1 Abraham again took a wife, and her name [was] Keturah. 2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian [were] Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these [were] the children of Keturah. 5 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. 6 But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east. 7 This [is] the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full [of years], and was gathered to his people..
Let start to break down these verses;
[Genesis 25:1-4 NKJV] 1 Abraham again took a wife, and her name [was] Keturah. 2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian [were] Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these [were] the children of Keturah.
- First point is that Abraham was not as dead as Sarah thought!!!
- First time Keturah is mentioned in the Bible is chapter 25 and the only other time is in 1 Chronicles 1:32.
- Wife vs Concubine. The definition of a concubine differs from what country, culture, and what age you are living in. In the Bible and in the time of Abraham. A concubine was a wife with a lower status of the first wife. Josephus calls Keturah, Abraham’s wife.
- Who is Keturah? The Bible does not mention where Keturah comes from. More than likely Keturah was a female maidservant not born in Abraham’s house. Keturah gives birth to six sons, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
- We are not told how old she is, whether she is young or old.
[Genesis 25:5 NKJV] 5 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.
Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. Isaac receives from Abraham, all his servants, female servants, all his trained fighting men, all his sheep, all his goats, all his camels, donkeys, gold, silver, all his wealth.
God’s unconditional Covenant with Abraham the Hebrew [Genesis 14:13]. First time Hebrew is mentioned in the Bible. The meaning of Hebrew is one from beyond- descendant of Shem through Eber. The name given to the Israelites.
[Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV] 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation [Hebrew nation]; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
God’s unconditional promise of the Seed [Messiah would come]
[Genesis 21:12 NKJV] 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
[Genesis 22:18 NKJV] 18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
[Galatians 3:15-18 NKJV] 15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though [it is] only a man’s covenant, yet [if it is] confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, [that] the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance [is] of the law, [it is] no longer of promise; but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise.
The everlasting land promise.
[Genesis 17:8 NKJV] 8 “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
[Genesis 25:6 NKJV] 6 But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines [wives] which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.
- We don’t know if Abraham had other concubines or wives. The Bible only tells us of two Hagar and Keturah.
- Abraham gave gifts to his sons of his concubines while he was alive, I believe that included Ishmael.
- Abraham was also promised by God to make Ishmael a great nation and 12 princes would form him [Genesis 17:20].
- Here is the part of this verse that struck me, “and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east”.
The question is why did Abraham send his sons away? There is nothing recorded in the word that said the six sons of Keturah were mocking Isaac! Remember in chapter 21 Ishmael was mocking Isaac. Josephus the Jewish historian Records that Sarah loved Ishmael, until she feared for Isaac’s physical safety. God agreed with Sarah and told Abraham to send Ishmael away. At this time Isaac is over 40 years old, married to Rebekah and would have over 300 fighting men at his command.
Josephus Calls the sons of Keturah were courageous and sagacious men [shrewd], including Abraham’s grandchildren. Half went to the region of Assyria and half went to the region of Arabia and Africa. The descendants, sons of Keturah throughout history at one time or the other become an enemy of Israel.
The meeting between Jesus and Abraham in chapter 18 was life changing for Abraham. It appears to increase his knowledge of God, increase his faith toward God, and his gift of prophecy increased likewise. Two examples are Genesis 22 [explain] Genesis 24 when Abraham sends the unnamed servant to get a bride. Pastor Martin mentioned that Abraham knew Rebekah was going to be Isaac’s bride, I agree. Josephus the Jewish Historian rightly agrees with us. Josephus said “when Abraham, the father of Isaac, had resolved to take Rebekah, the grand-daughter to his brother Nahor, for a wife to his son Isaac”
Likewise, Abraham’s increased knowledge of God and faith in God and his gift of prophecy answers the question I posed is why did Abraham send his sons away?
Just like God informs Abraham about his descendants being enslaved in Egypt for four hundred years.
[Genesis 15:13-14 NKJV] 13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land [that is] not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them for four hundred years. 14 “And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
I believe [opinion] that God had shown Abraham what his descendants [Israel] would endure throughout the centuries, I am talking about irrational hatred Anti-Semitism towards the Jewish people. The truth is every time Israel enter or possessed the promise land there was and is Anti-Semitism and throughout history there has been an irrational hatred towards the Jew. All through Genesis, especially in chapter 22 & 24 we watch God orchestrate future human events without violating His creation’s FREE WILL. When I read that verse in chapter 25:6 I believe the Holy Spirit press upon me that God was using Abraham to protect the Hebrew birth lineage from Anti-Semitism or extinction which would stop the Messiaic Birth. There a new Anti-Semitism is going in the world today as well as in about 80% the Church.
The NEW Anti-Semitism has a lot in common with what I call the old antisemitism as far as the goal is concerned. It was, is, and always will be the complete destruction of the Jewish people. Why? Remember this sentence will come into play at the end of this message.
The old Anti-Semitism was some what localized in Europe, spearhead by Hitler from German, as the rest of the world looking on in silent. Explain
Like the old Anti-Semitism the new Anti-Semitism is helped along by Replacement Theology by the Church, even the BDS movement is found in the Church today. Hitler used to silent the Church Replacement Theology. That was believed and promotion from Early Christian fathers which help to murder 6 million Jew. The belief of the Church that they are the new Israel and God is finished with His chosen people is Satan’s tactic to marginalize the Jewish people. Explain marginalizing any group of people will lead to their death [baby] and/or enslavement [African]. The truth is that God doesn’t marginalize anyone of His creation;
[Psalm 139:14 NKJV] 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And [that] my soul knows very well.
In researching the start of Replacement Theology I found it began just 50 or 60 years after the completion of the New Testament by Justin Martyr around AD 155 or 160. Hitler used the writing of Martin Luther to silent the Church.
I try research on the internet for a reason or cause for this irrational hatred Anti-Semitism [remember throughout history the destruction Jew is recorded like in the book of Esther] is it jealousy/ or is because the Hebrew people are better more superior then everyone else, or because God has cast Israel off and they are no longer a nation, or because the land doesn’t belong to Israel?
Let’s take the question of jealousy/or is it because the Hebrew people are better than everyone else?
[Deuteronomy 7:7 NKJV] 7 “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;
Because the land doesn’t belong to Israel?
We have been studying in Genesis that God give the land to Israel, Abraham’s descendants, Isaac and Jacob as a unconditional everlasting covenant it is confirmed in;
[Genesis 17:8 NKJV] 8 “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
[Psalm 105:8-11 NKJV] 8 He remembers His covenant forever, The word [which] He commanded, for a thousand generations, 9 [The covenant] which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, 10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [as] an everlasting covenant, 11 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,”
Because God has cast Israel off and is no longer a nation?
[Isaiah 41:8-14 NKJV] 8 “But you, Israel, [are] My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. 9 [You] whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You [are] My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: 10 Fear not, for I [am] with you; Be not dismayed, for I [am] your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ 11 “Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. 12 You shall seek them and not find them–Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. 13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ 14 “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
[Jeremiah 30:1-11 NKJV] 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 “Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you. 3 ‘For behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’ ” 4 Now these [are] the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah. 5 “For thus says the LORD: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, Of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask now, and see, Whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man [with] his hands on his loins Like a woman in labor, And all faces turned pale? 7 Alas! For that day [is] great, So that none [is] like it; And it [is] the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. 8 ‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘[That] I will break his yoke from your neck, And will burst your bonds; Foreigners shall no more enslave them. 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them. 10 ‘Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the LORD, ‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make [him] afraid. 11 For I [am] with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’
We could send mouths on this subject, let’s talk why it is important that the Church not believe or participate in Anti-Semitism or Replacement Theology I believe they are both heresies that plague the world and the Church. I would question whether or not you be a follower of Christ believe in Anti-Semitism or Replacement Theology. Here why, one way we judge cults is by who they claim Jesus really is, Explain
So the question is who do you say or claim Jesus is and what causes His second coming?
First, Jesus is the Jewish Messiah;
[Luke 1:67-70 NKJV] 67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68 “Blessed [is] the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who [have been] since the world began,
His purpose and what causes Him to return is the Jewish nation of Israel.
[Luke 13:34-35 NKJV] 34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen [gathers] her brood under [her] wings, but you were not willing! 35 “See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until [the time] comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ “
Here is why if you are a professing Christian I would worry about your salvation if you I believe or participate in Anti-Semitism or Replacement Theology. [Heb 13:8 NKJV] 8 Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, today, and forever.
[Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV] 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides [his] sheep from the goats. 33 “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 ‘I [was] naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed [You], or thirsty and give [You] drink? 38 ‘When did we see You a stranger and take [You] in, or naked and clothe [You]? 39 ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did [it] to one of the least of these My brethren, you did [it] to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do [it] to one of the least of these, you did not do [it] to Me.’ 46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
[Malachi 4:5-6 NKJV] 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
[Zechariah 12:10-11 NKJV] 10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for [his] only [son], and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11 “In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
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