Genesis

THERE is scarcely anything more beautiful and inspiring than the calm, bright, peaceful close of a long and honored life. Like a summer sunset, it floods the whole scene with brightness and glory. The hoary head is a crown of glory as it sinks to rest after a life’s long day spent in the way of righteousness. So it was with Abraham, as we can see from the passages which record his closing years.

Abraham’s was an old age happily spent in continued enjoyment of the Divine blessing (Gen 24:1). The Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. These words sum up the whole of Abraham’s life and experience, and now in old age he is still rejoicing in the consciousness of God’s presence and favour. "The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it" (Pro 10:22; Psa 37:22).

His was an old age marked by persistent faithfulness to the Divine will (Gen 24:2-4). Abraham still clings with undiminished faith and persistence to the revelation of God concerning him and his seed. He is therefore urgent that his son should not take a wife from the daughters of the Canaanites. The commission which he now gives to his trusted servant (perhaps Eliezer, Gen 15:2) shows clearly that he desires and determines to follow closely the Divine will. The oath mentioned here and in Gen 47:29 only occurs in these two passages in the Old Testament. It betokens a specially solemn engagement, though the reason of the precise form and method is practically unknown, and is therefore variously interpreted. A somewhat similar form of oath has been found in Australia (Driver, Genesis, p. 231).

His was an old age characterized by deep insight into the Divine purpose (Gen 24:6-7). The servant naturally asks what is to be done if the woman of his kindred is unwilling to take the long journey into Canaan. Abraham promptly and briefly replies that in any case his son is not to be taken out of Canaan. Whatever happens, Abraham is perfectly clear that God’s will must be done and His purpose maintained.

His was an old age possessed of absolute assurance of the Divine favour (Gen 24:7-9). He tells the servant that God, who had been with him all through his long life, would prosper the errand, and bring about that which was desired. At the same time the servant is once more enjoined not to take his son out of the land, and in the event of the unwillingness of the woman to come the servant will be clear of his oath. Thereupon the solemn promise was made, and the servant at once set out on that errand which, as we shall see, was crowned with Divine favour and success. The details of the story of his meeting with Rebekah, and the subsequent marriage, will come before us in the next chapter. We would now merely call renewed attention to this beautiful picture of an honored old age, loyal to God at all costs, satisfied with favour, full with the blessing of the Lord.

It is evident that Abraham’s closing years were marked by a fresh accession of bodily and mental vigor, as can be seen from the statements included in this section.

After the events recorded in the last chapter, culminating in the marriage of Isaac, Abraham in his solitude took to himself another wife, Keturah. At the same time the narrative makes it quite evident that she did not occupy the same rank of equality as Sarah did (Gen 24:6; 1Ch 1:32). It is interesting and significant to notice that one of the sons of Abraham’s second marriage was Midian, whose descendants became the intensely bitter foes of the descendants of Isaac.

Abraham was careful to make Isaac’s position perfectly clear, and, by providing for his other sons and sending them away eastward, unto the east country, he took the necessary steps to maintain Isaac’s position free from possible difficulties. Abraham thus sets possessors of wealth a good example in the careful and complete provision which he made during his life time for his family.

At length, at the age of one hundred and seventy-five years he passed away, seventy-five years after the birth of Isaac and thirty-five years after the marriage of the latter with Rebekah (Gen 21:5; Gen 25:20). The description of his death (Gen 24:8) is very beautiful, and it is interesting to note that he was gathered to his people, referring to their reunion in the unseen world. It is obvious that this phrase cannot possibly refer to his burial, since only Sarah’s body was in that tomb. (Cf. Gen 35:29; Gen 49:33.)

The two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, met over their father’s dead body to pay the last tokens of respect.

Death is the great healer of family differences and personal feuds.

Looking over Abraham’s life, we cannot but be struck with certain outstanding points in his character. Dr Candlish, in his suggestive lectures on Genesis, divides the patriarch’s life into two main sections; the first of these (chaps, 12-15) he characterizes as the time of faith, when Abraham was accepting the present gifts of God; the second (chaps, 16-24) he characterizes as the period of patience, when Abraham was expecting the future inheritance promised to him. The following element may, however, be seen throughout the whole of his life.

His Faith.

He took God at His word at each step of his career, and his simple trust in the Divine promise is the predominant feature of his life.

His Faithfulness.

He is rightly described as faithful Abraham (Gal 3:9)), for he not only believed, but expressed his belief in life. God’s promise had its outcome in Abraham’s practice; his faith was proved by faithfulness.

His Fear.

By this is meant his attitude of reverence. Notwithstanding the familiar terms on which he lived with God, he never forgot the relative position of the Divine Majesty and his own nothingness.

His Fellowship.

As we have already seen, the latter portion of his life was marked by a great access of spiritual experience and blessing, which led him into full friendship and fellowship with God. This was with Abraham, as it is now with the believer, the culminating point of all spiritual life.

As we review the entire life of Abraham, and consider it specially from God’s standpoint, we cannot help being struck with the threefold exemplification which is so evident all through the story.

1. The Divine Purpose.

One thing above all others marked the attitude of God in relation to Abraham: His will was to be done. From first to last this was God’s purpose. He had in view not merely the manifestation of what a life could be, but also, and perhaps chiefly, the choice of Abraham as the instrument of furthering His great purposes of redemption through the promised Messiah. Whether we think of Abraham personally or as the ancestor of the Messiah, we cannot help learning this one lesson, that believers are placed upon this earth for the one purpose above all others of fulfilling the Divine will. "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

2. The Divine Power.

God never commands without enabling, and in order that His purpose might be fulfilled He provided needful strength for Abraham. God’s grace was to be accepted. It is as true to-day as ever that As thy days so shall thy strength be, and the grace of God will always be found sufficient for carrying out His will and purpose.

3. The Divine Plan.

The practical question remains as to how, and by what means, the Divine purpose can be accomplished and the Divine power utilize by man. The answer is found in the life of Abraham. God’s word was to be believed. When faith responds to the Divine promise the Divine power is at once given, and through that power the Divine purpose is perfectly accomplished. On the one hand God assures the believer, "My grace is sufficient for thee;" and on the other the believer responds, "I can do all things through Him Who is empowering me."