# 230 The Summary of Abraham's Life

The Book of Genesis

Day 230

  Ge 25:1 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.

 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite,

 10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife.

Abraham was 137 years old when Sarah died and he lived to be 175. After her death we are told he married Keturah. Who is referred to as one of his concubines in 1 Chr 1:32. Yes Abraham had concubines, but this in no way legitimizes polygamy or adultery.  This sinful practice was tolerated and practiced largely due to the influence of the pagan cultures of the day, but it certainly was not the will of God! AND it  usually created all sorts of relational problems within the family.

In spite of all these children fathered by Abraham, the righteous line of Jesus Christ is preserved and given special attention through Isaac. “Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac” (v5)

He didn't leave the rest of his children out in the cold, rather he gave them gifts and sent them eastward, away from Isaac.

So the earthly life of Abraham ends after 175 years. He wasn't perfect, but what a legacy of faith he left behind! Here is a man, who to this day, is revered by Muslims, Jews, and Christians. He was “the friend of God.” (James 2:23) and the father of the faithful. (Gen 15:6)  He was generous, hospitable, unselfish and a man of great character with unbounded trust in God! Yet, he is no different than you or I! He had his faults, but even with his faults, he sought to exercise his God-given faith time after time. He sought to do what we all should seek to do, and that is, to  believe and obey God with the measure of faith God has given us. How will God call you and I to exercise faith today? How will God give us an opportunity to be an Abraham? Let us all pray, that we don’t let those opportunities slide by.