Study 3: Family of Ishmael & the Family of Isaac

Ishmael and his family

Descendants of Abraham

As promised, God made Abraham a father of many nations (Genesis 17:4)        Genesis 25:1-6

• He had a total of 8 sons, 7 plus the chosen one, Isaac

Abraham takes another wife after Sarah dies (Genesis 23:1)

Note that all that Abraham had went to Isaac    Genesis 25:5

Abraham dies aged 175 (Genesis 25:7)

Ishmael and his family

Genesis 25:12-16 (see also 1 Chronicles 1:28-31)

Ishmael had 12 sons: (Those mentioned in Scripture outside of genealogies):

1. Nebaioth        the Nabateans who built the cities of Petra and Teman (Is 60:7)
2. Kedar              Located to northwest Arabia (Ps 120:5 and other passages))
6. Dumah           Mentioned in Joshua 15:52 & Isaiah 21:11
9. Tema              Job 6:19, Is 21:14, Jeremiah 25:23
10. Jetur             Lived in Trans-Jordan (also known as the East Bank), and from where the Itureans of Luke 3:1 originated.

Ishmael's death                Genesis 25:17

Ishmael's territory         Genesis 25:18 (From the Euphrates to the Red Sea (N-S), Northern Sinai to Babylon (W-E).

Prophecy concerning the behaviour of Ishmael              Genesis 16:12.

1. A wild man & roamer – no land would be off-limits
2. An aggressor
3. Everyone would be against him, as he roamed the earth
4. He would oppress his relatives, living side by side with them (i.e. Israel)

• He lived in a state of hostility with those around him (Deuteronomy 21:16, Jon 1:11, 6:28, 21:31)

Issac and his family

Marriage and children

Isaac marries a woman from his grand-father's family (Rebekah) Genesis 24 (one of the longest chapters in the Bible)

• Bethuel, Isaac's cousin or grand-daughter  of Abraham's brother, is the father of Rebekah
• Rebekah meaning "a rope with a noose".
• A beautiful woman (Genesis 26:7)
• Fausset writes: A model marriage: God's direction was asked and given, the godly seed was equally yoked with the seed of the godly, the parents sanctioned it, Rebekah was one who had as a young woman discharged domestic duties diligently; her beauty, courtesy, willing consent, modesty, all made her deservedly attractive, and secured Isaac's love at once and permanently. Barren for 19 years, she at last received children by God's gift in answer to Isaac's prayers.

God's message to Rebekah regarding her twins                Genesis 25:19-24
Birth of Esau and Jacob                Genesis 25:25-28
Rearranging the birth rights – Esau sells his birth right (25:27-35)

• God chose Jacob (election at work)       Romans 9:10-12
• Esau was a profane person (Hebrews 12:16, 17)
• Esau lives for the moment
• He married Hittite women (Genesis 26:34, 35)
• His wives made life difficult for Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:35)

Isaac's life

Genesis 26 is devoted to the life of Isaac
Abrahamic covenant is reaffirmed to Isaac Genesis 26:1-5
Isaac is mentioned in the Book of Hebrews Hall of Faith: Hebrews 11:20
Isaac is a child of promise (Galatians 4:28), explained by Paul in Romans 9:10-12

Children of Isaac: Esau vs Jacob

The birthright (which under common law, was saleable):

1. Had physical benefits (Deuteronomy 21:17)
2. Had spiritual benefits (1 Chronicles 5:1, 2) – despised by Esau (Gen 25:32)
3. Provided for being in the Messianic line of the Abrahamic covenant
4. Provided for possession of the Land of Israel

Esau's life

His third wife is a Canaanite married to despise his father          Genesis 28:6-9

God Isaac

God promises Isaac

• Blessing, land as established in the Abrahamic covenant, many descendants (Genesis 26:1-5)