ABRAHAM’S CROSSING OVER In this chapter, the divine inspiration tells us about the crossing over of Abraham from this world after marrying ‘Keturah,’ and giving birth to many children. Yet, if he gave gifts to each of his other sons, he gave all the inheritance to Isaac; he delivered to him his hope in salvation, and his enjoyment of the divine covenant. For Isaac, in his turn, to deliver the same inheritance to his son Jacob. 1- Abraham’s marriage to Keturah 1-6. 2- Abraham breathes his last 7-11. 3- The genealogy of Ishmael 12-18. 4- Birth of Esau and Jacob 19-26. 5- Jacob purchases the birthright 27-34. 1- ABRAHAM’S MARRIAGE TO KETURAH Abraham married Keturah after the death of his wife Sarah, and gave birth to children who became heads of nations. Yet, they did not get what Isaac did. The Scripture says: “Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east” (Gen. 25:6). He did not leave his sons of the concubine without gifts, but, while still living, he sent them away from his son Isaac, who enjoyed all what his father had. He gave him his living faith, surrendered to him the promises, and provided him with the spirit of hope in the divine salvation, etc. That is the Church’s tradition that we enjoy as a living inheritance we live. Abraham died, yet he did not lose what he got in the Lord, as he delivered it in the heart of his son Isaac, to carry his same thought, and to harbor the same practical faith in the Lord. By that, even though Abraham died by flesh, yet he rejoiced for what his son had received. I wish we do not become like the children of the concubines, seeking from our father material gifts. But let us be like Isaac, the son of the promise, to enjoy what is in our father’s heart, and live our days on earth as children of God, carrying the spiritual riches, that nobody can take from us. Going back to Keturah, whom Abraham married in his old age, the word ‘Keturah’ according to Origen1, means ‘fragrance,’ or nice smell; and Abraham symbolizes the believer, whose body is extinguished, as though practicing the putting of his members to death (Colossians 3:5). Namely, the carnal lusts are put to death, for the body to set forth sanctified in the Lord, and carry the fragrance of Christ, to say: “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Some believe that Abraham’s marriage to Keturah, (means ‘fragrance’) after Sarah’s death, was a prophecy about the Church of the New Testament, that carries the 1 In Gen. hom 11. 4 fragrance of the Lord Christ, after the Jews (Sarah) lost their life through their denial of faith in the Lord Christ, the Savior of the world. 2- ABRAHAM BREATHES HIS LAST “This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived; one hundred and seventy-five years. 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” (Gen. 25:7-8). Although Abraham died, yet he is alive in God; and as Origen says: [Concerning Abraham’s death, we may add what came in the Gospel of the words of the Lord: “But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,’ He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living” (Mark 12:26-27). “For all live in Him” (Luke 20:37). We yearn for such a death: “Having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). So, we should comprehend Abraham’s death, that his bosoms get wide enough to embrace all saints, coming from the four corners of the world, who “are carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22)1.] In other words, we can say that death has not abolished Abraham, our father, but on the contrary, it made his bosoms wider to embrace the souls of saints along the ages. Abraham breathed his last, and was gathered to his people, to receive in the Lord the spirits of his children in faith, and enter with them into Paradise in Jesus Christ our Lord, after having enjoyed a good old age, an old man full of years. And as St. Jerome says: [His life was all days with no nights2.] Abraham was gathered to his people, as his soul set forth to live with his fathers and ancestors; as his body was buried beside that of his wife Sarah in the cave of Machpelah, that he purchased from the sons of Heth. “It came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi” (Gen. 25:11). This is the blessing that Isaac got, that he dwelt at ‘Beer Lahai Roi’-(the well of vision); and as Origen says: [Isaac was worthy to remain in a state of vision, and to dwell there. We also, if we become illuminated by the mercy of God, we can comprehend some of the visions, and enjoy the radiation of our Lord in our minds. Then, we can say that we spent a day at the well of vision. If I can acquire something from the divine Scripture, according to the Spirit, and not to the letter, I can then say, that I spent few days at the well of vision. I cannot comprehend the whole divine Scripture, yet, at least, I persist on listening to its words, and, ”in His law, I meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). I never stop studying it, and contemplating in its meanings, praying to God, to grant me the blessing to be able to comprehend it; as He is the Grantor of prudence to man. By that, I can say, that I also, dwell at the well of vision. On the contrary, he, who does not listen to the words of God in His Church, and comes to Church only on feasts, does not dwell at the well of vision, and does not drink from its water. Therefore, hasten and strive to gain the blessing of our Lord, to be worthy of dwelling at the well of vision; to have your eyes opened to behold that well, and to get from it, “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Let me show 1 In Gen. hom 11:3. 2 On Ps. hom 21. 5 you who never separates himself from the well of vision: the apostle Paul, who says, “We all... behold... the glory of our Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). You also, if you continually get into the depth of the vision, seek what is for your benefit, and persistently meditate in it. You will definitely get the Lord’s blessing, and will dwell at the well of vision. Jesus will encounter you on the road, to make you say: “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?!” (Luke 24:32). God cares for those who meditate in His Law day and night1.] 3- THE GENEALOGY OF ISHMAEL Ishmael begot twelve sons who became princes of tribes and peoples, according to God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 17:20). God did not forget Ishmael and his children, although he did not enjoy what Isaac got: from whose seed the Lord Christ incarnated. He mentions the genealogy of Ishmael, as the Lord comes to embrace all nations and peoples and makes them one in Him. 4- THE BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB The Holy Bible tells us that Isaac got married to Rebecca when he was 40 years old. She was the daughter of Bethuel the Aramite. As she was barren, Isaac pleaded with the Lord for her, and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebecca conceived after 20 years of marriage. The twins struggled together within her, and she said: “If all is well, why am I this way “ (Gen. 25:22). They jostled each other so intensely, to cause the mother much pain and worry for their life and hers. She meant to say: If that is the way between the twins, what is the need for such pregnancy, that deprived her life of all taste?! The struggle between Esau and Jacob, that began while still in the womb, and seemed as though unable to accommodate both of them, continued and became more intense as they grew up, and increased between their descendants: Israel and Edom. Some Fathers see in that struggle, a portrait of the continuous struggle between evil and good within the womb of the Church. Fr. Caesarius says: [Good souls wish to overcome evil, but the wicked are always keen on destroying the righteous. Members in the Church, who belong to Esau, are those who tend to possess the earthly, love and lust for the earth, and put all hope in it. Likewise, members who wish to minister to the Lord, targeting worldly dignity, or to enjoy material benefit, all belong to Esau, namely to earthly happiness2.] As Rebecca suffered the intense pain, “she went to inquire of the Lord” (Gen. 25:22), namely, she dedicated more time to praying, probably in her secret place, asking the Lord to give her peace, and to reveal the matter to her. Origen believes that the word “went,” does not imply an actual material movement, saying: [Where did Rebecca go to inquire of the Lord? Is not He present everywhere? Doesn’t he, Himself, say: “Do I not fill the heaven and the earth? “ (Jeremiah 23:24) I do not think she went anywhere, but rather crossed over from a kind of life to another, from a kind of work to another; from what is good to what is better; from what is important to what is more so, and from sanctification to higher sanctification3.] In other words, if we want God to listen to us, let us go to inquire of the Lord, by setting forth to better life and behaving according to His pleasure. 1 In Gen. 11:3. 2 Ser. 86:2. 3 In Gen. hom 12:2. 6 The Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, two people shall be separated from your body. One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23). By that, the Lord revealed to her the mystery of that struggle, as she carried inside her two peoples, one would originate from the younger child – Jacob - yet would become more superior spiritually, and a master to his brother. The secret behind that superiority, was receiving the promise of God, and enjoying the divine blessing; Out of him prophets will come, and of his descendants the Word of God will incarnate. The older was carnally the firstborn, yet because of the corruption of his heart, he would lose his firstborn status and his blessing. The younger, because of his strife and spiritual longing, would, through faith, enjoy the spiritual birthright, and the blessing. Some Church Fathers see in that divine phrase a reference to the Church of the New Testament, that, if compared to the Jews, as far as knowledge of God is concerned, is considered the younger, as it came to know Him at the end of times, yet it turned out to become spiritually stronger, confiscated the birthright of the Spirit, and took away the prophecies, the covenants, the divine promises, and the heavenly laws to her children’s account. And as Fr. Caesarius says: [The older and more ancient people are the Jews, who now serve the younger people, namely the Christians; having carried for them the divine law in the world to teach the nations1.] St. Augustine says: [You are ‘Jacob,’ the younger people, who is served by the older people2.] [This is now realized, brethren, as the Jews are serving us as carriers of our briefcase. We study, while they carry our Scriptures for us3.] Origen presents to us the same line of thought, beside another symbolic interpretation that touches our inner life; seeing every soul as though a “Rebecca,” carrying deep inside her two peoples: A people of virtues struggling another of evils, saying: [“As from out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19); as well as “idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies” (Galatians 5:20). There you are! You see how huge are the wicked people in us. Yet we are qualified to utter together with the saints: “So we have been in your sight, O Lord. We have been with child, we have been in pain. We have, as it were, brought forth wind. We have not accomplished any deliverance on earth” (Isaiah 26:17- 18). There is also another people in us, a spiritual generation, “As the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22); It is a small people, compared to the other one. The wicked are always far more numerous than the righteous; virtue is more than evil. Yet, if we become analogue to Rebecca, and we have Isaac, namely the Word of God, (our Groom), a people would be stronger than another, and the older would serve the younger; the flesh would serve the Spirit; and evil would retreat before virtue4.] We go back to Rebecca: “ When her days were fulfilled, for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy 1 Ser. 86:3. 2 On Ps. 81. 3 On Ps. 41. 4 In Gen. hom 12:3. 7 garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them” (Gen. 25:25-26). The first was called Esau, meaning ‘hairy or rough,’ as his body was covered with hair; while the second was called Jacob, as his hand was taking hold of his brother’s heel; He remained, all his life chasing him, to take away from him the birthright and the blessing. These two children were symbols for the carnal and the spiritual man: the first was hairy, a reference to bond with the flesh; also called Edom, a word derived from the Arabic word for ‘blood,’ as he was red in color. He lived as a violent hunter, fond of shedding blood, a character inherited by his descendants ‘the Edomites.’ Jacob, on the other hand was a symbol of the spiritual man, who chase others for the sake of acquiring eternities. He was, as described by St. Jerome, [a wrestler and a striver for spirituals1.] Esau, man of the wilderness, a skillful hunter, while Jacob, was a mild man, dwelling in tents (Gen. 25:27). Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebecca found in Jacob, a meek man with whom she was more comfortable. 5- JACOB PURCHASES THE BIRTHRIGHT Esau appeared a carnal man, as he sell his birthright to his brother Jacob, for a plate of red stew; therefore his name was called Edom. His lack of caring was demonstrated in his saying: “Look, I am about to die, so what profit shall this birthright be to me?” (Gen. 25: 32); on which the Holy Bible commented by saying: “Esau despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:34). Jacob, although he made use of his brother’s weariness, to bargain with him for birthright, yet, as a spiritual man, he did not sell the plate of stew for a material price, but to acquire the birthright. If Esau represented someone who did not care for spiritual graces and eternal glories, for the sake of food and bodily lusts, Jacob, on the other hand, represented someone who loved the spirituals. A son with birthright, used to represent the head of the family, who inherits from his father the right to ‘Priesthood,’ being the one to offer sacrifices on behalf of the family. That is why, from Jacob’s seed, came the tribe of ‘Levi’ who were assigned the priestly role. St. Augustine comments on the fall of Esau, that what he did was not particularly for the sake of a plate of stew, but because of his non-caring nature, saying: [It is to teach us that the fault does not lie in the creation of God, but rather in the stubborn rebellion and shameful lust; The first man did not earn death because of pig meat, but for a fruit (Gen. 3:6); and it was not because of a meal of birds, but for a plate of stew, that Esau sell his birthright2.] If we enjoy birthright through our union with God in His Firstborn Son, I wish we do not take that easily, for the sake of food or carnal lusts; but we should rather sell everything to acquire the Firstborn in our life. CHAPTERS 21-27 GOD’S DEALINGS WITH ISAAC 1 On Ps. hom 7. 2 In Ioan. tr 73:1. 8 If God had been apparent in Abraham’s life as the father of believers, and in Sarah’s life as their mother, their son Isaac inherited that legacy, as he carried in his heart the faith of his parents, as a living tradition, that he lived all his days, then delivered it to his son Jacob (Israel). In our studies of the previous chapters, we realized the dealings of God with Isaac, who was the fruit of a divine promise: 1- Isaac, the son of promise, as the source of his parents’ joy (Gen. 21). 2- Isaac, the son of obedience, a burnt offering to God (Gen. 22). 3- God chooses Rebecca a sanctified wife and comfort for Isaac (Gen. 23). 4- Rebecca gives birth to Esau and Jacob (Two nations) (Gen. 25). 5- Isaac sojourns as a stranger in Gerar, and re-digs wells of water (Gen. 26). 6- Jacob supplants the blessing of his father Isaac (Gen. 27).
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