Abraham was protecting the covenant when he sent Keturah’s children away. It sounds quite hard-hearted to us today. Genesis 25: 6 But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac. [1]
Abraham had learned a lesson when Ishmael made fun of Isaac. Genesis 21: 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”[2]
Abraham’s love for Ishmael blinded him to the threat he posed to Isaac. Sarah could see this and demanded that they leave. God agreed with Sarah, and Abraham sent Ishmael and his mother, Hagar, away.
Inheriting the Covenant
Now that Abraham understood the threat other sons could pose to Isaac’s inheriting the covenantal blessings, he took proactive measures. Even before his death, Abraham sent these men away. But they didn’t go empty-handed. Abraham sent them with gifts to begin their lives in a new land. When Abraham sent them east, it demonstrated that Isaac was the primary heir and would inherit the land.
Isaac was the son of the covenant. Abraham knew this and was obedient to act. Genesis 25: 5 Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac.[3] It is obvious that Isaac inherited his father’s physical assets and wealth. But Isaac inherited much more, the spiritual blessings God had promised Abraham.
Genesis 12: 2 I (God) will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others… 3 All the families on earth will be blessed through you… I will give this land to your descendants.” [4]
We Inherit Covenantal Blessings
The Apostle Paul explains how Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, has enabled us to become part of the family of Abraham. Galatians 3: 26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus… 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.[5]
Paul continues and explains the need to send the other sons away. Galatians 4: 28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit. 30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” [6]
We can understand from this that through Jesus, we inherit God’s promises. This is not the result of human effort but a gift from God. Now we see how Abraham protecting the covenant benefits us today. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/abraham-faithful-to-the-end
[1-6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.