Mar 4 

Genesis 25:1-18
Memorise Genesis 17:4
“And thou shalt be a father of many nations”

Although the primary focus of God’s covenant to Abraham was through Isaac and the Messianic line, there was also the promise that Abraham would be the “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:4). Thus aside from Israel, there would be other nations that would descend from Abraham that would also be multiplied exceedingly. Here in Genesis 25, we see other descendants of Abraham and the nations that resulted from them.

After Sarah died, Abraham remarried and took a wife named Keturah. From her, he had other sons listed for us in Genesis 25:2-4. Amongst the various names, the one son that can be traced conclusively would be Midian, from whom the Midianites descended from. They would later be closely associated with the Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:27-28), and Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law would be from there as well (Exodus 2:16).

In Genesis 25:12-16, we are then given a glimpse of the family tree of Ishmael, Abraham’s son through Hagar. The last time we heard of Ishmael, he was cast off to wander in the wilderness with his mother. When they were on the brink of death, the Lord appeared to Hagar and assured her that they would survive, and that He would make of Ishmael a great nation (Genesis 21:17-18), a promise previously given to Abraham in Genesis 17:20. God provided a well of water for them and they survived the ordeal. We were told that “God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.” (Genesis 21:20). Now, many years later, we are now given an update as to what became of Ishmael. True to God’s promise, he did have 12 sons who were described as princes, and they successfully established towns and cities, and did become a great nation.

However, their story does not end there. Though they were brothers of the Israelites, these nations would become constant thorns in their side. The Ishmaelites, Midianites, and later the Edomites that descended from Esau, would constantly be at war with Israel, even till today, as evidenced by the on-going conflicts between the Jews and Arabs in the Middle Eastern region. It is sad to see these people who were once brothers, now embroiled in such bitter conflict. Yet these are all in the plan of God, and come in fulfilment of the prophecies in His Word. We must always remember that God makes no mistakes – His plan is always the best!

Thought: God will always keep His Word!
Prayer: Lord, may I learn to trust in Your sovereign plan and will.