# 231 The Glorious Gathering

The Book of Genesis

Day 231

 Ge 25:8 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.  11 And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.

A couple of things we should make note of here. First of all,  look who buried Abraham! It was Ishmael and Isaac. These two half-brothers had been estranged from each other ever since Sarah had kicked Hagar and Ishmael out of the house, but now they were brought together by the death of their father.

It is at this point that Ishmael is then briefly brought back into the Genesis account. Even though Isaac and Ishmael were brought back together for the funeral, the Bible makes it clear that the blessing of the righteous  line of Christ continues through the blessing of God bestowed upon Isaac.

We don't know what kind of contact Isaac had with Ishmael through the years, or how he got word to Ishmael that his father had died, but let us use this incident to remind ourselves to not allow family disputes to follow us all the way to the grave, Let us make every effort to live at peace with one another, especially within the family!  Ro 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Secondly, let us note the use of the idiom “was gathered to his people.” This is a common phrase used in Scripture that speaks of more than mere death. Commentators have differing views on this phrase, but the Holy Spirit does not waste words in Scripture. If all that was being recorded here was the death of Abraham, He didn't need to add that phrase.

This phrase was also used in speaking of the passing of Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, and Joshua, and in the view of many commentators, is just another way of saying that these men, passed on to glory joining all believers that have gone on before them.

You and I may pass on and our bodies may wind up in a cemetery, but as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, our souls move on to be gathered with all believers that have gone on before us.....people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, and yes even the thief on the cross!

What a glorious gathering that will be!  By the grace of God, I hope to see you there one day!