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1Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.
7This is the length of Abraham's life, one hundred seventy-five years. 8Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with his wife Sarah. 11After the death of Abraham God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.
12These are the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's slave-girl, bore to Abraham. 13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. 17(This is the length of the life of Ishmael, one hundred thirty-seven years; he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria; he settled down alongside of all his people.
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And so God’s story continues. In today’s reading, Abraham, the patriarch of our faith, dies at the ripe, old age of 175. Two of his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, bury their father next to his wife Sarah. This one whom God called, this one to whom God made a covenant promise, this one who set off by faith to an unknown land, this one who was obedient to God even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, is now out of the picture. And we wonder, Will the story continue? Will God continue to be faithful through others? Will there be others who carry on Abraham’s faith?
It is easy to look back at people like Abraham and think, Will there ever be another person as faithful as him? It is easy to look back at former generations in the church and at former disciples who have died and think, Will there ever be another generation as faithful? Will there ever be another disciple who can lead this or that ministry? Will there ever be another time when the church is as vibrant as it was at this or that time or another?
The answer is, “Of course!” God’s story did not end with the death of Abraham and Sarah. It continued through people like Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Joseph and his brothers, Moses and the prophets. It continued through the life, death, and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus. It continues today through each of us and the ways we live out our faithfulness to Christ. And, it will indeed continue through future generations in exactly the way God intends. The story of God’s love for the world continues through each generation, not because of our faithfulness to God, but only because of God’s faithfulness to us.
As we look back at all the saints who, like Abraham and Sarah, have died, it is good and right to give thanks for their faith and witness. However, it is also good and right to rejoice in the saints of today and to hope in the saints of tomorrow as God’s story continues. In all our yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows, God is faithful.
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Lord God, open our eyes to see your story unfolding in all our yesterdays, all our todays, and all our tomorrows. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Written by Pastor Greg Busboom
Lead Pastor
pbusboom@stjohns-springfield.org
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