Death And Life (Genesis 25:1-18, 1 Corinthians 15:12-24)
Rev. William L. Barron, October 14, 2018Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
This passage deals with the family of Abraham. Ishmael and his line became a great problem for Isaac and his line. Isaac was the son of promise. Abraham took another wife, Keturah. He lived another 38 years after the death of Sarah. He loved all his sons; he gave his inheritance to Isaac and gifts to his other sons. He sent the other sons away, and they too became enemies of Israel. Ishmael's line formed 12 tribes. In ordaining this, God was faithful to his promise to Ishmael and to Hagar. We might as, "Did God really fulfill his promise to Abraham?" Abraham died at a good old age, but did he receive the promise of the land? The book of Hebrews termed Abraham's land as a downpayment on a greater land, which we learn is eternity with God in the Kingdom of Christ. Abraham may have died, but his people still exist. The implication is that those who die in Christ enjoy a reunion with other believers who have gone before. We see that God blessed Abraham, Joshua and David, among many others. Eternal life is not so much about us as it is about God's eternal decree.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « A Bride For Isaac | None | Instruction On True Worship » |
Genesis 25:1–18 (Listen)
25:1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.
7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.
12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.
(ESV)
1 Corinthians 15:12–24 (Listen)
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
(ESV)