Scripture Reading : Gen 25
Theme : The long and good life
The center of attention now shifts from Abraham to Isaac.
Isaac the heir.
God’s resurrection power continued to work in Abraham; he married again and begat six more sons. God is not likely to do this for people today, but the spiritual lesson is clear: we should be fruitful even in old age (Ps. 92:14). Abraham distinguished Isaac from his other sons: he gave them generous gifts, but he made Isaac his heir (v. 5; 24:35). God gives good things to unsaved people (Matt. 5:45; Acts 14:17; 17:25), but only those who are His children, through faith in Christ, can claim their inheritance. (See Rom. 8:17; Eph. 3:6; Heb. 1:2.)
Isaac the orphan.
Abraham lived by faith and died by faith (Heb. 11:13), and God kept His word (Gen. 15:15). Isaac and Ishmael together mourned their father’s death, for death is a human experience that binds all men together. Unsaved relatives share in times of sorrow, but their grief is hopeless without Jesus Christ. Compare Ishmael’s death (v. 17) with that of Abraham.
Isaac the intercessor.
Isaac the father.
God gave them twin boys who were opposite each other in every way. He also gave them a revelation that the younger one, Jacob, would carry on the messianic line. For that reason, you would think that Isaac would have favored Jacob but the physical won over the spiritual. Esau pictures the man of the world who despises the eternal and lives for the temporal.
Praying the Scripture
- Abraham died “in a good old age” as the Lord had promised him (15:15). He had walked with the Lord and had been “the friend of God” (James 2:23). Old age is “good” if you have the blessing of the Lord on your life (Prov. 16:31). Abraham also died “full of years” (Gen. 25:8). This suggests more than a quantity of time; it suggests a quality of life. Abraham, who flourished and was fruitful to the very end, fulfilled the picture of old age given in Psalm 92:12–15. How few people really experience joy and satisfaction when they reach old age! This is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and graciousness. Let’s pray that we will also end well with “full of years” and “in good old age.”
- It is a clear case that favoritism always divides homes (Gen 25:28 ) Let’s pray that we will protect our family from favoritism.
- Esau despised his birthright over a cup of lentil stew. (Gen 25:34) what about us? Do we despise our birthright as a Christian because of temporal and earthly pleasure? Let’s pray that we value our salvation and identify because Christ paid a heavy price for us!
经文：创25章
主题：健康长寿
现在我们的注意力从亚伯拉罕转移到以撒身上。
继承人–以撒
神复活的能力继续在亚伯拉罕身上动工，他再婚并生下六个儿子。神在今日应该不会再为人们这么做，但属灵的功课是明确的：即使在年老的时候，我们也要多结果子。（诗92:14）亚伯拉罕将以撒从其他儿子分别出来。：亚伯拉罕虽然赐给他的儿子们丰厚的礼物，但他只让以撒做自己的继承人（第5节；24:35）。神将美好的东西赐给未得救的人（太5:45；徒14:17；17:25），但只有通过在基督里，因信称义的人才可以继承祂的产业。 （参罗8:17，弗3:6；希1:2）
孤儿 – 以撒
亚伯拉罕因着信活着，也因着信去世。（希11:13）以撒和以实玛利一同为父亲的死亡哀悼，因为死亡也可以使人团结。未得救的亲人在这时候也会一同悲伤，但他们的悲伤是无望的，因他们没有耶稣基督。请比较以实玛利和亚伯拉罕的死亡（17节）。
代祷者 –以撒
以撒迎娶利百加的时候已经四十岁了。神赐给以撒所有的一切，除了他最想要的东西。亚伯拉罕和利百加知道神应许他们将有后代。（创15:5）因此以撒紧握神的承诺，并不断祷告。真正的祷告是紧按着神的应许祷告（约15:7），并求完成神的旨意。
父亲 –以撒
神所赐的虽是双胞胎男孩，但他们在各方面都大不相同。祂也赐给他们一个启示，就是小儿子雅各将继承弥赛亚的血脉。出于这个原因，你可能以为以撒将更疼爱雅各，但肉体却胜过属灵。以扫代表一个蔑视永恒时间和生命的世俗的人。
用经文祷告
- 亚伯拉罕“健康长寿”的死去，就如主已应许他的那样（15:15）。他与主同行，他是“神的朋友”。（雅2:23）如果你的生命充满了主的祝福，那长寿必定是件好事。（箴16:31）而亚伯拉罕更是“寿高年迈”。（创25:8）这不但说明他发非常长寿，它也表明他有优质的生活。亚伯拉罕儿孙满堂，直到最后还仍然生儿育女，这勾画了诗篇92:12-15中所提的老年生活。到底有几个老人真正体验到了这样的快乐和满足呢？这就是神的信实和恩典的见证。让我们祈祷，我们也将以“寿高年迈” 为自己的生命画上句号。
- 这里清楚告诉我们偏袒总是分散家庭（创25:28）。让我们祈祷，我们不偏袒以保护自己的家庭。
- 以扫因一碗红豆汤而藐视自己长子的名分。（创25:34）我们又如何呢？我们是否也因短暂和俗世的享受而鄙视我们身为基督徒的名分呢？让我们祈祷，我们珍惜我们的救恩和身份，因为基督为我们付出了沉重的代价！
