# 31 - Father Abraham - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, Isaac reflects on the profound legacy left by his father, Abraham, as they prepare for his passing. Through moments of grief and remembrance, Isaac receives a final blessing and begins to understand the magnitude of the covenant passed down through their lineage.
Episode 31 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
Sign up for The Chosen People devotionals at https://www.thechosenpeople.com/sign-up
For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Romans 4:9, “We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.”
Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app.
Shown Notes:
(01:28) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:46) Father Abraham - Cinematic Retelling
(20:21) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
0:00:00 --> 0:00:02
<v Speaker 1>Previously on the chosen people.
0:00:04 --> 0:00:06
<v Speaker 2>Abram, who's there?
0:00:06 --> 0:00:11
<v Speaker 3>Abram? You are to go out from your land, leave
0:00:11 --> 0:00:16
<v Speaker 3>your father's house and your relatives behind, and go to
0:00:16 --> 0:00:18
<v Speaker 3>the land I will show you.
0:00:19 --> 0:00:23
<v Speaker 1>Abram didn't know why this god chose him. He wasn't
0:00:23 --> 0:00:27
<v Speaker 1>a substantial or charismatic man. He wasn't even the greatest
0:00:27 --> 0:00:31
<v Speaker 1>in his household. How would he accomplish all that had foretold?
0:00:33 --> 0:00:37
<v Speaker 4>L Elion, The one and only true God there is
0:00:38 --> 0:00:41
<v Speaker 4>the one who created both the heavens and the earth.
0:00:42 --> 0:00:43
<v Speaker 3>He has many names.
0:00:44 --> 0:00:45
<v Speaker 1>But he is one god.
0:00:46 --> 0:00:49
<v Speaker 4>The God most High is what I call him before you.
0:00:49 --> 0:00:53
<v Speaker 4>Now this is the God of Abraham, the God who
0:00:53 --> 0:00:55
<v Speaker 4>has given him favor in his land.
0:00:57 --> 0:01:01
<v Speaker 2>What is my destiny? It will be my legacy.
0:01:02 --> 0:01:05
<v Speaker 3>Can you count the stars, Abram?
0:01:05 --> 0:01:07
<v Speaker 1>Abram shook his head uncertain.
0:01:08 --> 0:01:12
<v Speaker 3>You cannot, for there are too many. It is impossible.
0:01:13 --> 0:01:16
<v Speaker 3>It is to be the same with your offspring. The
0:01:16 --> 0:01:20
<v Speaker 3>great nation I shall make through your air would be
0:01:20 --> 0:01:24
<v Speaker 3>as innumerable as the stars in the night sky.
0:01:31 --> 0:01:34
<v Speaker 5>As he prepares to leave a legacy and say farewell,
0:01:35 --> 0:01:40
<v Speaker 5>we find the heartbeat of a man who dared to dream. Schello,
0:01:40 --> 0:01:43
<v Speaker 5>my friends, from here in the Holy Land, of Israel,
0:01:43 --> 0:01:47
<v Speaker 5>Amya l Exstein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews,
0:01:47 --> 0:01:51
<v Speaker 5>and welcome to the Chosen People. Each day we'll hear
0:01:51 --> 0:01:55
<v Speaker 5>a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories filled with
0:01:55 --> 0:01:59
<v Speaker 5>timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life.
0:02:00 --> 0:02:04
<v Speaker 5>Through Israel's story, we find this truth that we are
0:02:04 --> 0:02:13
<v Speaker 5>all chosen for something great. So let's begin. Abraham, the
0:02:13 --> 0:02:17
<v Speaker 5>father of nations, stands at the edge of eternity. The
0:02:17 --> 0:02:20
<v Speaker 5>end of this one man's life leaves us with many
0:02:20 --> 0:02:25
<v Speaker 5>questions even today. What does it mean to leave a legacy?
0:02:26 --> 0:02:30
<v Speaker 5>To whom do we pass our hopes and dreams? And
0:02:30 --> 0:02:34
<v Speaker 5>in the end, what defines a good life? Journey with
0:02:34 --> 0:02:38
<v Speaker 5>me through this dramatized Bible story inspired by Genesis twenty
0:02:38 --> 0:02:43
<v Speaker 5>five one to eighteen, and discover profound truths that echo
0:02:44 --> 0:02:45
<v Speaker 5>through the ages.
0:02:48 --> 0:02:51
<v Speaker 3>Master Isaac, your father Abraham seeks an audience with you
0:02:51 --> 0:02:52
<v Speaker 3>straight away.
0:02:53 --> 0:02:55
<v Speaker 4>Thank you, I will be there shortly.
0:02:56 --> 0:02:59
<v Speaker 6>It's still strange that these messages do not come from Eliezer,
0:03:00 --> 0:03:01
<v Speaker 6>isn't it it is?
0:03:03 --> 0:03:07
<v Speaker 4>I confess the sadness of Elieza's passing still comes over
0:03:07 --> 0:03:11
<v Speaker 4>me at the strangest times. I've not quite recovered from it.
0:03:12 --> 0:03:14
<v Speaker 4>I do not think I'll stop feeling his loss for
0:03:14 --> 0:03:15
<v Speaker 4>quite some time.
0:03:16 --> 0:03:19
<v Speaker 6>He was a loyal friend to your father, to me,
0:03:19 --> 0:03:20
<v Speaker 6>and especially to you.
0:03:21 --> 0:03:22
<v Speaker 3>He was.
0:03:23 --> 0:03:25
<v Speaker 6>So, what do you suppose your father wants to see
0:03:25 --> 0:03:27
<v Speaker 6>you about? Surely he means to bless you.
0:03:28 --> 0:03:31
<v Speaker 1>Isaac wasn't sure what his father wanted to see him about.
0:03:31 --> 0:03:34
<v Speaker 1>But before he could state as much, Rebecca as he
0:03:35 --> 0:03:37
<v Speaker 1>knew she always would answered for him.
0:03:38 --> 0:03:41
<v Speaker 6>How could he not bless you? He's been handing more
0:03:41 --> 0:03:44
<v Speaker 6>and more of his responsibilities to you. He hardly leaves
0:03:44 --> 0:03:47
<v Speaker 6>camp at all anymore. And what of sending all of
0:03:47 --> 0:03:51
<v Speaker 6>Katuras's children away? Removing any potential challengers to your birthright
0:03:52 --> 0:03:55
<v Speaker 6>is a wise move, as your father declines, Not that
0:03:55 --> 0:03:57
<v Speaker 6>I would anticipate that a former slave.
0:03:57 --> 0:04:01
<v Speaker 4>Rebecca Hagar has been re stated as a wife now
0:04:01 --> 0:04:02
<v Speaker 4>not a slave?
0:04:02 --> 0:04:05
<v Speaker 6>Yes, yes, a wife and not a slave.
0:04:05 --> 0:04:08
<v Speaker 4>She has a Hebrew name and is worthy of honor.
0:04:10 --> 0:04:12
<v Speaker 6>But you know as well as I that she has
0:04:12 --> 0:04:15
<v Speaker 6>no mind for politics. I'm not sure she would orchestrate
0:04:15 --> 0:04:19
<v Speaker 6>her children to conspire against you, but I appreciate that
0:04:19 --> 0:04:21
<v Speaker 6>Abraham is not taking that chance.
0:04:22 --> 0:04:24
<v Speaker 2>My uncles would try to take our birthright.
0:04:25 --> 0:04:29
<v Speaker 6>No, they you don't know that. The law does not
0:04:29 --> 0:04:32
<v Speaker 6>grant them an inheritance. But these things happen. Sending them
0:04:32 --> 0:04:34
<v Speaker 6>away was very prudent of your father.
0:04:34 --> 0:04:39
<v Speaker 2>Indeed, grandfather gave them all gifts before they went, even
0:04:40 --> 0:04:42
<v Speaker 2>Uncle Midian and his sons, which was.
0:04:42 --> 0:04:44
<v Speaker 4>Very generous and noble of your grandfather.
0:04:46 --> 0:04:48
<v Speaker 6>Yes, but it's still not an inheritance.
0:04:49 --> 0:04:52
<v Speaker 4>No, it is not. I should go see my father.
0:04:53 --> 0:04:56
<v Speaker 4>Then we will no longer remain in mystery.
0:04:57 --> 0:05:00
<v Speaker 1>Isaac kissed his wife and ruffled his son's head before
0:05:00 --> 0:05:06
<v Speaker 1>he left their tent. Jacob was always underfoot listening. The
0:05:06 --> 0:05:09
<v Speaker 1>boy was almost a man now and becoming increasingly clever
0:05:09 --> 0:05:13
<v Speaker 1>by the day. He was his mother's child in every way,
0:05:14 --> 0:05:16
<v Speaker 1>quick to act and even quicker to arrive at a
0:05:16 --> 0:05:20
<v Speaker 1>conclusion between the two of them. Who was all Isaac
0:05:20 --> 0:05:23
<v Speaker 1>could do to keep up. As he passed through the
0:05:23 --> 0:05:27
<v Speaker 1>vast caravan to his father's tent, he wondered where Esau
0:05:27 --> 0:05:32
<v Speaker 1>had run off to lightly out hunting. Isaac's mouth watered
0:05:32 --> 0:05:36
<v Speaker 1>at the thought. An absent Esau usually meant that a
0:05:36 --> 0:05:39
<v Speaker 1>warm meal would await him when he arrived home.
0:05:39 --> 0:05:39
<v Speaker 3>Later.
0:05:40 --> 0:05:43
<v Speaker 1>Isaac was greeted at the tent entrance by a servant,
0:05:43 --> 0:05:47
<v Speaker 1>and he saw a physician exit his father's sleeping quarters.
0:05:47 --> 0:05:50
<v Speaker 1>The man nodded to him solemnly as he departed, but
0:05:50 --> 0:05:56
<v Speaker 1>said nothing. Isaac's stomach tightened in response. This feeling was
0:05:56 --> 0:06:00
<v Speaker 1>all too familiar. It was much the same when eliazebagain
0:06:00 --> 0:06:04
<v Speaker 1>came sick. Isaac tamped down his fears and approached his
0:06:04 --> 0:06:07
<v Speaker 1>father's sleeping quarters, where he found his father.
0:06:07 --> 0:06:17
<v Speaker 2>Abed, Oh, my sod, father, No, listen carefully. As you
0:06:18 --> 0:06:24
<v Speaker 2>can see, I do not have much longer. My time
0:06:24 --> 0:06:30
<v Speaker 2>amongst you is almost at an end. I would give
0:06:30 --> 0:06:36
<v Speaker 2>you my blessing now, while I am still a sound mind.
0:06:37 --> 0:06:39
<v Speaker 4>I would be honored to receive it.
0:06:40 --> 0:06:40
<v Speaker 2>Father.
0:06:40 --> 0:06:44
<v Speaker 1>Isaac inhaled sharply as he tried to keep the tears
0:06:44 --> 0:06:48
<v Speaker 1>from freely falling down his cheeks. He knelt at his
0:06:48 --> 0:06:52
<v Speaker 1>father's side beside his bedroll and bowed his head as
0:06:52 --> 0:06:55
<v Speaker 1>his father grasped his shoulder with surprising strength for his
0:06:56 --> 0:06:56
<v Speaker 1>weakened condition.
0:07:00 --> 0:07:05
<v Speaker 2>Loved Isaac, may our God bless you and keep you.
0:07:07 --> 0:07:11
<v Speaker 2>May you walk in His ways all the days of
0:07:11 --> 0:07:16
<v Speaker 2>your life, and may you be the blessing to all nations,
0:07:17 --> 0:07:23
<v Speaker 2>as God promised to me. May you inherit the land
0:07:23 --> 0:07:28
<v Speaker 2>promised to us, and may your descendants be as countless
0:07:28 --> 0:07:34
<v Speaker 2>as the stars in the sky. May the Lord establish
0:07:34 --> 0:07:41
<v Speaker 2>his covenant with you and your offspring forever, and may
0:07:41 --> 0:07:50
<v Speaker 2>his promises be fulfilled through your faithfulness and obedience. My
0:07:50 --> 0:07:57
<v Speaker 2>dear Isaac, May you be a blessing to generations to come.
0:07:57 --> 0:08:03
<v Speaker 2>And may our God be your God now and forevermore.
0:08:05 --> 0:08:10
<v Speaker 1>Isaac was speechless of this beautiful speech, which formerly bound
0:08:10 --> 0:08:13
<v Speaker 1>him to the precious promise made to his father. He
0:08:13 --> 0:08:16
<v Speaker 1>swore to do everything in his power to uphold it
0:08:17 --> 0:08:21
<v Speaker 1>and steward his part of their legacy well. Isaac and
0:08:21 --> 0:08:25
<v Speaker 1>his father talked and reminisced about all they had seen
0:08:25 --> 0:08:28
<v Speaker 1>and accomplished in their lives, of Isaac's children and their
0:08:29 --> 0:08:33
<v Speaker 1>hopes for them, and of Sarah. They spoke, laughed, and
0:08:33 --> 0:08:38
<v Speaker 1>cried until Abraham grew weary and needed rest. Feeling fulfilled
0:08:38 --> 0:08:42
<v Speaker 1>and nostalgic, Isaac returned to his beloved wife and children.
0:08:43 --> 0:08:46
<v Speaker 1>As he departed from his father's tent, he noticed that
0:08:46 --> 0:08:51
<v Speaker 1>he seemed to surprise Katurah, Abram's second wife. Lingering at
0:08:51 --> 0:08:55
<v Speaker 1>the entrance, Isaac offered a smile, but as always, she
0:08:56 --> 0:09:01
<v Speaker 1>averted her eyes respectfully orbeard a little awkwardly. Isaac never
0:09:02 --> 0:09:05
<v Speaker 1>wanted to make anyone uncomfortable, but he supposed it was
0:09:05 --> 0:09:09
<v Speaker 1>unavoidable given their history. He bowed his head to her
0:09:09 --> 0:09:17
<v Speaker 1>and left. Days passed slowly into weeks, and Isaac received
0:09:17 --> 0:09:20
<v Speaker 1>the summons he was most dreading to receive. His father,
0:09:21 --> 0:09:27
<v Speaker 1>the great and Noble Abraham, was dead. Mourners were already
0:09:27 --> 0:09:30
<v Speaker 1>gathering and keening outside of his father's tent when he
0:09:30 --> 0:09:34
<v Speaker 1>arrived to fulfill the task of closing his cherished father's
0:09:34 --> 0:09:38
<v Speaker 1>eyes for the last time. The finality of closing a
0:09:38 --> 0:09:43
<v Speaker 1>second parent's eyes was almost enough to break Isaac. Gone
0:09:43 --> 0:09:46
<v Speaker 1>was his parental guidance from the face of this earth.
0:09:46 --> 0:09:49
<v Speaker 1>How would he lead and love his people without their
0:09:49 --> 0:09:54
<v Speaker 1>watchful eyes and wise words. He clung to the lessons
0:09:54 --> 0:09:57
<v Speaker 1>he had gleaned from their lifetimes, but feared he would
0:09:57 --> 0:10:01
<v Speaker 1>fumble as he carried their legacies forward. He stayed and
0:10:01 --> 0:10:05
<v Speaker 1>wept beside the lifeless body of his father, at the
0:10:05 --> 0:10:09
<v Speaker 1>foot of this great man, until he had exhausted every
0:10:09 --> 0:10:12
<v Speaker 1>tear and a bit of strength from his body. Rebecca
0:10:13 --> 0:10:16
<v Speaker 1>faithfully stayed by his side all the while, when it
0:10:16 --> 0:10:20
<v Speaker 1>was finally time to leave, to let the servants see
0:10:20 --> 0:10:23
<v Speaker 1>to their task of preparing his body for burial. He
0:10:23 --> 0:10:26
<v Speaker 1>leaned on her as she guided him through the throng
0:10:26 --> 0:10:30
<v Speaker 1>of mourners and well wishes. Beyond them all, and just
0:10:30 --> 0:10:33
<v Speaker 1>out of sight, there seemed to be a commotion at
0:10:33 --> 0:10:38
<v Speaker 1>the edge of camp. Numbly, Isaac saw that it had
0:10:38 --> 0:10:42
<v Speaker 1>not escaped Rebeccah's sharp gaze. He was sure she would
0:10:42 --> 0:10:46
<v Speaker 1>connect the dots for him later. Whatever this disturbance was,
0:10:46 --> 0:10:51
<v Speaker 1>it could wait. But it turned out it would not wait.
0:10:52 --> 0:10:56
<v Speaker 1>Whispers spread through the camp with such ferocity that even Isaac,
0:10:57 --> 0:11:00
<v Speaker 1>in his vortex of grief, could not escape hearing the news.
0:11:01 --> 0:11:03
<v Speaker 1>Ishmael who is back?
0:11:06 --> 0:11:09
<v Speaker 6>Ishmael arrives just as your father drew his last breath,
0:11:09 --> 0:11:12
<v Speaker 6>and the other challengers have been sent away.
0:11:12 --> 0:11:15
<v Speaker 4>They were not challengers. And we do not yet know
0:11:15 --> 0:11:20
<v Speaker 4>Ishmael's motives, do we not, Rebecca, You do not know him.
0:11:21 --> 0:11:22
<v Speaker 3>I do not know him.
0:11:23 --> 0:11:24
<v Speaker 4>He was sent away.
0:11:23 --> 0:11:25
<v Speaker 2>When I was just a babe.
0:11:25 --> 0:11:27
<v Speaker 4>We cannot claim to know his mind.
0:11:28 --> 0:11:31
<v Speaker 6>Well, we surely know who did this. His Egyptian mother
0:11:31 --> 0:11:34
<v Speaker 6>must have sent word. You yourself said you saw her
0:11:34 --> 0:11:37
<v Speaker 6>lingering about the tent when Abraham gave you his blessing,
0:11:37 --> 0:11:41
<v Speaker 6>his last will and testament, she would have him challenge
0:11:41 --> 0:11:42
<v Speaker 6>your father's intentions.
0:11:42 --> 0:11:48
<v Speaker 4>Challenge you, please, Rebecca, no more scheming. It is right
0:11:48 --> 0:11:51
<v Speaker 4>that the woman told her son to come pay respects
0:11:51 --> 0:11:55
<v Speaker 4>to his father. You forget. Ishmael was my father's heir
0:11:55 --> 0:11:59
<v Speaker 4>for many years before I was born. He is circumcised
0:11:59 --> 0:12:02
<v Speaker 4>the same as me. He may very well hold many
0:12:02 --> 0:12:05
<v Speaker 4>of our customs. Still, I hear he's on his way
0:12:05 --> 0:12:07
<v Speaker 4>to building a nation of his own out in the
0:12:07 --> 0:12:12
<v Speaker 4>wilderness of Baran. Surely challenge is not on his mind.
0:12:12 --> 0:12:16
<v Speaker 4>With what that responsibility on his shoulders. I do not
0:12:16 --> 0:12:17
<v Speaker 4>like it.
0:12:17 --> 0:12:18
<v Speaker 6>The timing worries me.
0:12:19 --> 0:12:23
<v Speaker 4>I know, my love. I'm sure he'll call on us soon,
0:12:23 --> 0:12:26
<v Speaker 4>and then his intentions will be made clear.
0:12:27 --> 0:12:31
<v Speaker 1>Isaac was right. Not an hour later, a servant arrived
0:12:31 --> 0:12:33
<v Speaker 1>to tell them Ishmael was on his way to meet
0:12:33 --> 0:12:38
<v Speaker 1>with them. Esau and Jacob looked innocently at their father,
0:12:38 --> 0:12:40
<v Speaker 1>picking up on their mother's.
0:12:39 --> 0:12:43
<v Speaker 2>Worry, Father, what will you call them?
0:12:43 --> 0:12:44
<v Speaker 3>Is he brother?
0:12:45 --> 0:12:49
<v Speaker 2>Is he uncle by blood but not by law? When
0:12:49 --> 0:12:54
<v Speaker 2>grandfather divorced his mother, Hagar, he lost his inheritance, but.
0:12:54 --> 0:12:58
<v Speaker 3>She did come back, and we call her by Katura.
0:12:58 --> 0:13:03
<v Speaker 6>Now, boys, he will be here soon. Stop your quarreling.
0:13:05 --> 0:13:09
<v Speaker 4>Thank you, Rebecca. Just address him as Master Ishmael. Be
0:13:09 --> 0:13:13
<v Speaker 4>respectful and be done with it. We do not know
0:13:13 --> 0:13:15
<v Speaker 4>what he wants, but we will be gracious hosts while
0:13:15 --> 0:13:17
<v Speaker 4>he is under our tent.
0:13:18 --> 0:13:21
<v Speaker 1>Just then, a formidable man entered the tent in the
0:13:21 --> 0:13:25
<v Speaker 1>wake of Isaac's servant. The boy Isaac barely remembered as
0:13:25 --> 0:13:30
<v Speaker 1>a toddler, had grown into a leader and warrior. You
0:13:30 --> 0:13:33
<v Speaker 1>could see his physical and tactical prowess in how he
0:13:33 --> 0:13:37
<v Speaker 1>carried himself and quickly and efficiently surveyed the room. His
0:13:37 --> 0:13:41
<v Speaker 1>arms were thick and tight, like braided rope. His eyes,
0:13:42 --> 0:13:44
<v Speaker 1>piercing and intense, reminded him of an eagle.
0:13:45 --> 0:13:49
<v Speaker 3>Master Isaac, I present Master Ishmael of the Paran Wilderness.
0:13:50 --> 0:13:56
<v Speaker 4>Brother, you have grown since we last met, as have you,
0:13:56 --> 0:13:57
<v Speaker 4>Master Ishmael.
0:13:57 --> 0:14:00
<v Speaker 7>I must admit I would be surprised if he remembered
0:14:00 --> 0:14:01
<v Speaker 7>me at all.
0:14:02 --> 0:14:04
<v Speaker 4>I'm a simple man, but I have the memory of
0:14:04 --> 0:14:05
<v Speaker 4>a fortified tower.
0:14:06 --> 0:14:09
<v Speaker 1>The two men chuckled as they took each other's measure.
0:14:10 --> 0:14:14
<v Speaker 1>Isaac could sense the tension softening his wife beside him,
0:14:14 --> 0:14:17
<v Speaker 1>but she did not relax entirely. It was indeed a
0:14:17 --> 0:14:21
<v Speaker 1>relief that Ishmael came with such an agreeable demeanor. Even
0:14:21 --> 0:14:25
<v Speaker 1>amid all that was happening around them. He could tell
0:14:25 --> 0:14:27
<v Speaker 1>that his sons were impressed with the man as well.
0:14:28 --> 0:14:31
<v Speaker 1>In fact, there was almost a kindred spirit between young
0:14:31 --> 0:14:35
<v Speaker 1>Esau and the great warrior who stood before them. They
0:14:35 --> 0:14:39
<v Speaker 1>both seemed wild and powerful in their own ways. Even
0:14:39 --> 0:14:43
<v Speaker 1>Jacob's calculating assessment must have found the man to be
0:14:43 --> 0:14:47
<v Speaker 1>a worthy leader. After all, the man had accomplished so
0:14:47 --> 0:14:50
<v Speaker 1>much through the family he had built in a relatively
0:14:50 --> 0:14:52
<v Speaker 1>short period of time out in the desert.
0:14:53 --> 0:14:57
<v Speaker 4>May I present my wife, Mistress Rebecca, daughter of Bethel,
0:14:58 --> 0:15:03
<v Speaker 4>and my twin sons he saw and Jacob twins. I
0:15:03 --> 0:15:05
<v Speaker 4>have twelve children.
0:15:04 --> 0:15:06
<v Speaker 3>And none of them are twins.
0:15:06 --> 0:15:10
<v Speaker 4>Where I live, twins are considered to be gifts from
0:15:10 --> 0:15:11
<v Speaker 4>the Sun and moon.
0:15:12 --> 0:15:12
<v Speaker 2>Blessed.
0:15:13 --> 0:15:17
<v Speaker 6>Yes, we have been doubly blessed, Master Ishmael.
0:15:19 --> 0:15:21
<v Speaker 4>I must admit, Master Ishmael, we would not anticipate in
0:15:21 --> 0:15:25
<v Speaker 4>your arrival. As you can imagine, there is much to do,
0:15:25 --> 0:15:27
<v Speaker 4>so we can bury our.
0:15:27 --> 0:15:31
<v Speaker 1>Father Ishmael at the mention of their father. Stepped to
0:15:31 --> 0:15:34
<v Speaker 1>Isaac and grabbed his shoulder in a boldly comforting manner.
0:15:35 --> 0:15:38
<v Speaker 1>The movement surprised Isaac, but it was not unwelcome.
0:15:38 --> 0:15:39
<v Speaker 4>Isaac.
0:15:40 --> 0:15:43
<v Speaker 7>When I heard of Abraham's death, I wept for days.
0:15:44 --> 0:15:49
<v Speaker 7>Though my departure left a deep wound. Father raised me
0:15:49 --> 0:15:53
<v Speaker 7>to be strong and competent. The tools he gave me
0:15:53 --> 0:15:57
<v Speaker 7>were invaluable in the wilderness. My heart is with you
0:15:58 --> 0:16:01
<v Speaker 7>as well. I cannot imagine the grief you must feel.
0:16:02 --> 0:16:07
<v Speaker 7>Please allow me to assist you in burying him. This
0:16:07 --> 0:16:10
<v Speaker 7>is why I have come all this way. I must
0:16:10 --> 0:16:13
<v Speaker 7>see the father has laid to rest in peace.
0:16:14 --> 0:16:15
<v Speaker 3>Thank you, wish Mail.
0:16:15 --> 0:16:17
<v Speaker 4>I would be honored to have you at my side
0:16:17 --> 0:16:18
<v Speaker 4>to bury our father.
0:16:19 --> 0:16:20
<v Speaker 1>It is I who am honored.
0:16:21 --> 0:16:23
<v Speaker 4>Thank you for receiving me.
0:16:26 --> 0:16:31
<v Speaker 1>And so the reunited brothers buried their father together. Abraham
0:16:31 --> 0:16:35
<v Speaker 1>was buried beside his beloved Sarah in the cave of Macbela,
0:16:36 --> 0:16:40
<v Speaker 1>which he had purchased from Ephron, son of Zohar, the Hetheite.
0:16:40 --> 0:16:43
<v Speaker 1>Abraham was buried in the land he was promised by
0:16:43 --> 0:16:46
<v Speaker 1>his God, and on a portion of it that he
0:16:46 --> 0:16:50
<v Speaker 1>rightfully owned, just as he had done when his mother
0:16:50 --> 0:16:54
<v Speaker 1>had died, Isaac stayed back when the other mourners and
0:16:54 --> 0:16:56
<v Speaker 1>even his own family made their way back to the caravan.
0:16:57 --> 0:16:59
<v Speaker 1>He sat there a long while in his own grip
0:17:00 --> 0:17:04
<v Speaker 1>and reflected back on his mother's and father's memories, enjoying
0:17:05 --> 0:17:07
<v Speaker 1>the peaceful quiet of the serene edge of the field.
0:17:08 --> 0:17:12
<v Speaker 1>When Isaac finally departed from the tomb, he again wondered
0:17:12 --> 0:17:15
<v Speaker 1>at his father's wisdom in making the purchase of the
0:17:15 --> 0:17:19
<v Speaker 1>land and cave for their family. He knew that in
0:17:19 --> 0:17:22
<v Speaker 1>this place, too, he would be buried, and his wife
0:17:22 --> 0:17:26
<v Speaker 1>and his children after him. It was humbling to stand
0:17:26 --> 0:17:29
<v Speaker 1>in the shadow of what would become his family's monument
0:17:29 --> 0:17:34
<v Speaker 1>on this earth, and far more humbling still to consider
0:17:34 --> 0:17:39
<v Speaker 1>the generations that God promised would come after. Ishmael shared
0:17:39 --> 0:17:42
<v Speaker 1>with Isaac how his God had been with him since
0:17:42 --> 0:17:45
<v Speaker 1>the time he and his mother, Hagar had been cast out.
0:17:46 --> 0:17:49
<v Speaker 1>Ishmael had grown to be a great clan leader, the
0:17:49 --> 0:17:52
<v Speaker 1>one Abraham had raised him to be. His nation would
0:17:52 --> 0:17:57
<v Speaker 1>only grow from here, and Isaac's other half siblings, they
0:17:57 --> 0:17:59
<v Speaker 1>would surely multiply now that they were spreading out to
0:17:59 --> 0:18:03
<v Speaker 1>thee It was as if Isaac could see the beginnings
0:18:03 --> 0:18:07
<v Speaker 1>of their God's promise in his lifetime. Already he was
0:18:07 --> 0:18:11
<v Speaker 1>beginning to understand the stories his father told him of
0:18:11 --> 0:18:17
<v Speaker 1>uncountable stars and dust. Almost in answer to his weighty thoughts,
0:18:17 --> 0:18:21
<v Speaker 1>Isaac suddenly noticed the stillness of the night around him.
0:18:21 --> 0:18:25
<v Speaker 1>The stars above him seemed brighter, and the cool breeze
0:18:25 --> 0:18:28
<v Speaker 1>of the evening seemed as if it had disappeared, and
0:18:28 --> 0:18:33
<v Speaker 1>the air around him seemed fixed in place. The crickets
0:18:33 --> 0:18:36
<v Speaker 1>and chirps of the night time chorus ceased as well.
0:18:36 --> 0:18:40
<v Speaker 1>All the world around him held its breath in reverence
0:18:40 --> 0:18:44
<v Speaker 1>as a glorious and comforting presence fell upon him, And
0:18:44 --> 0:18:48
<v Speaker 1>then came a voice, just like the one he had
0:18:48 --> 0:18:52
<v Speaker 1>heard as a boy upon that lonely mountain and makeshift
0:18:52 --> 0:18:57
<v Speaker 1>altar all those years ago. Isaac dropped to his knee, trembling,
0:18:58 --> 0:19:00
<v Speaker 1>and bowed his head to receive the word of his
0:19:01 --> 0:19:01
<v Speaker 1>father's God.
0:19:02 --> 0:19:07
<v Speaker 3>Isaac, son of my servant Abraham, you have spent a
0:19:07 --> 0:19:12
<v Speaker 3>lifetime following your father as he followed me. I come
0:19:13 --> 0:19:16
<v Speaker 3>now to bless you to carry out the promise I
0:19:16 --> 0:19:21
<v Speaker 3>made to your father. Through your lifetime, your family's name
0:19:21 --> 0:19:26
<v Speaker 3>will be great, and I will bless those who bless
0:19:26 --> 0:19:31
<v Speaker 3>you and curse those who curse you. Through your lineage,
0:19:31 --> 0:19:37
<v Speaker 3>all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Today
0:19:37 --> 0:19:42
<v Speaker 3>I re establish my covenant with you and your offspring.
0:19:42 --> 0:19:46
<v Speaker 3>May you follow me as faithfully as your father did,
0:19:46 --> 0:19:49
<v Speaker 3>and may you raise your sons to do the same
0:19:50 --> 0:19:51
<v Speaker 3>after you.
0:19:52 --> 0:19:55
<v Speaker 4>Thank you, my God will do all that you ask me.
0:19:56 --> 0:20:02
<v Speaker 1>With that, the voice receded, leave that same comforting presence
0:20:02 --> 0:20:05
<v Speaker 1>behind in the back of his mind. It was just
0:20:05 --> 0:20:09
<v Speaker 1>out of reach, but Isaac could sense it there. It
0:20:09 --> 0:20:12
<v Speaker 1>gave him the confidence he was seeking to take up
0:20:12 --> 0:20:16
<v Speaker 1>his father's mantle, and it gave him great comfort in
0:20:16 --> 0:20:18
<v Speaker 1>his beloved father's absence.
0:20:25 --> 0:20:28
<v Speaker 5>As we come to the end of Abraham's life story,
0:20:28 --> 0:20:33
<v Speaker 5>it has been a story that's spectacular. But Abraham's story,
0:20:33 --> 0:20:38
<v Speaker 5>as we all know, Yeah, well, it hasn't been very
0:20:38 --> 0:20:41
<v Speaker 5>neat and tidy. No no, no, It's been very messy.
0:20:42 --> 0:20:45
<v Speaker 5>There are highs and lows, victories and failures, and yet
0:20:45 --> 0:20:48
<v Speaker 5>God has been faithful through it all. It makes me
0:20:48 --> 0:20:52
<v Speaker 5>reflect on my own journey, the moments when stepping out
0:20:52 --> 0:20:56
<v Speaker 5>in faith felt like stepping off a cliff, the times
0:20:56 --> 0:21:01
<v Speaker 5>I've laughed at the improbability of God's promises in my life.
0:21:01 --> 0:21:06
<v Speaker 5>But Abraham's story reminds me that faith isn't about certainty. No,
0:21:06 --> 0:21:10
<v Speaker 5>it's not about certainty. Rather, it's about trust, trust in
0:21:10 --> 0:21:14
<v Speaker 5>the God who calls, who leads, who fulfills his promise,
0:21:14 --> 0:21:18
<v Speaker 5>even when the path is winding and the destination is unclear.
0:21:18 --> 0:21:22
<v Speaker 5>I learned from Abraham's story that he still had trust
0:21:23 --> 0:21:27
<v Speaker 5>in a God who is always at work, and of
0:21:27 --> 0:21:31
<v Speaker 5>a God who chooses ordinary people to play a part
0:21:32 --> 0:21:37
<v Speaker 5>in his extraordinary story. As Abraham's story comes to a
0:21:37 --> 0:21:41
<v Speaker 5>close in Genesis twenty five, verse five, it tells us
0:21:41 --> 0:21:47
<v Speaker 5>Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. Now, there's a
0:21:47 --> 0:21:50
<v Speaker 5>beautiful Jewish tradition that says that Abraham left the following
0:21:50 --> 0:21:54
<v Speaker 5>and his last Will and Testament to Isaac. This is
0:21:54 --> 0:21:57
<v Speaker 5>a quote God told me at the beginning of my mission.
0:21:57 --> 0:21:59
<v Speaker 5>You shall be a blessing that I would have the
0:21:59 --> 0:22:03
<v Speaker 5>power to bless people, to bless my family, the Chosen people,
0:22:03 --> 0:22:06
<v Speaker 5>and to bless the entire world. And I now give
0:22:06 --> 0:22:10
<v Speaker 5>over to you, my dear Isaac, that power, the most
0:22:10 --> 0:22:14
<v Speaker 5>significant power in the world, the power to bless.
0:22:15 --> 0:22:16
<v Speaker 2>Isn't that beautiful?
0:22:17 --> 0:22:22
<v Speaker 5>I get chills just reading it? Abraham, in passing on
0:22:22 --> 0:22:27
<v Speaker 5>that power to bless to the next generation, passed on
0:22:27 --> 0:22:34
<v Speaker 5>that power to all future generations, and that includes.
0:22:34 --> 0:22:35
<v Speaker 4>You and me.
0:22:36 --> 0:22:41
<v Speaker 5>We're able to bless one another and every single day
0:22:41 --> 0:22:44
<v Speaker 5>in our work at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews,
0:22:44 --> 0:22:47
<v Speaker 5>this is exactly what we do, and this is what
0:22:47 --> 0:22:48
<v Speaker 5>you help.
0:22:48 --> 0:22:49
<v Speaker 2>Us to do.
0:22:50 --> 0:22:55
<v Speaker 5>We bless the poor with food and basic necessities. We
0:22:55 --> 0:23:00
<v Speaker 5>bless the lonely with friendship and compassion. We bless the frightened,
0:23:01 --> 0:23:04
<v Speaker 5>who are very often under rocket attack here in Israel,
0:23:04 --> 0:23:09
<v Speaker 5>with safety and security. Every one of us, my friends,
0:23:09 --> 0:23:12
<v Speaker 5>indeed has the power to bless, and in doing so,
0:23:13 --> 0:23:15
<v Speaker 5>I think we can all agree that we make our
0:23:15 --> 0:23:20
<v Speaker 5>own lives truly blessed. As the daughter of Rebbi Riile Estein,
0:23:21 --> 0:23:23
<v Speaker 5>founder of the Fellowship, I relate to this story deeply
0:23:24 --> 0:23:26
<v Speaker 5>because I know what it means to be raised by
0:23:26 --> 0:23:29
<v Speaker 5>a great man who impacted countless lives around the world.
0:23:30 --> 0:23:34
<v Speaker 5>Every day I am reminded of my place as his daughter.
0:23:35 --> 0:23:38
<v Speaker 5>Many children of great men and women can feel burdened
0:23:38 --> 0:23:42
<v Speaker 5>by their lineage. They feel trapped by expectations, and instead
0:23:42 --> 0:23:46
<v Speaker 5>of being uplifted by them, they feel burdened by them.
0:23:46 --> 0:23:50
<v Speaker 5>But for me, being grab Eckstine's daughter is not just
0:23:50 --> 0:23:55
<v Speaker 5>an honor, it's a sacred duty, carrying on the holy
0:23:55 --> 0:23:57
<v Speaker 5>work of those who came before us as part of
0:23:57 --> 0:24:03
<v Speaker 5>our Jewish identity, retching back to the dawn of our faith,
0:24:04 --> 0:24:08
<v Speaker 5>all the way back to the story of Abraham and Isaac.
0:24:08 --> 0:24:12
<v Speaker 5>In this week's episode, an extra phrase also sticks out
0:24:12 --> 0:24:17
<v Speaker 5>from the scriptures. We are told of quote the account
0:24:17 --> 0:24:21
<v Speaker 5>of the family line of Abraham's son Isaac, and then
0:24:21 --> 0:24:26
<v Speaker 5>we're reminded again that quote Abraham became the father of Isaac.
0:24:26 --> 0:24:31
<v Speaker 5>End quote. Well, this makes me wonder, because the Torah
0:24:31 --> 0:24:34
<v Speaker 5>wastes no words. If something is repeated, it means that
0:24:34 --> 0:24:40
<v Speaker 5>it carries weight and wisdom. There are ten times that
0:24:40 --> 0:24:45
<v Speaker 5>the Bible begins a verse with elettodt, which means this
0:24:45 --> 0:24:49
<v Speaker 5>is the account of the family line of someone. Nine
0:24:49 --> 0:24:52
<v Speaker 5>of those times it goes on to list only the children.
0:24:53 --> 0:24:59
<v Speaker 5>But for Isaac, it starts by reaffirming Abraham as his father.
0:25:00 --> 0:25:04
<v Speaker 5>This isn't just repetition, it's a profound teaching. You see,
0:25:04 --> 0:25:10
<v Speaker 5>Isaac's story as a father begins with his identity as
0:25:11 --> 0:25:16
<v Speaker 5>Abraham's son. Isaac was the first born into Abraham's covenant,
0:25:16 --> 0:25:21
<v Speaker 5>and that's no small deal. He understood that his primary
0:25:21 --> 0:25:26
<v Speaker 5>role in life was to carry forward his father's greatness.
0:25:27 --> 0:25:31
<v Speaker 5>Like Isaac, we too must embrace the legacy and faith
0:25:31 --> 0:25:34
<v Speaker 5>of those who came before us, because it's in the
0:25:34 --> 0:25:38
<v Speaker 5>shadows of the great that we learn to become greater.
0:25:39 --> 0:25:42
<v Speaker 5>But before we come to that instance of the Hebrew
0:25:42 --> 0:25:46
<v Speaker 5>fes Ele TOLDO, these are the children of We see
0:25:46 --> 0:25:50
<v Speaker 5>it even earlier in reference to Ishmael. So let's talk
0:25:50 --> 0:25:55
<v Speaker 5>about Ishmael. During his life, Abraham experienced a very difficult
0:25:55 --> 0:25:59
<v Speaker 5>family situation. Now listen to the two verses that tell
0:25:59 --> 0:26:06
<v Speaker 5>us of Abraham's death and burial. Verse eight says quote,
0:26:06 --> 0:26:11
<v Speaker 5>then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good
0:26:11 --> 0:26:15
<v Speaker 5>old age. Then the very next verse says quote, his
0:26:15 --> 0:26:18
<v Speaker 5>sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of
0:26:18 --> 0:26:22
<v Speaker 5>mach Pelin. Sincemael was Abraham's first born, you'd think that
0:26:22 --> 0:26:24
<v Speaker 5>his name would come first, but it doesn't. Well, the
0:26:24 --> 0:26:28
<v Speaker 5>Jewish sages suggest that this implies that Ishmael repented for
0:26:28 --> 0:26:32
<v Speaker 5>his negative qualities and insisted that Isaac precede him in
0:26:32 --> 0:26:36
<v Speaker 5>the funeral procession. This is a great lesson for all
0:26:36 --> 0:26:39
<v Speaker 5>of us, a lesson about the opportunity for repentance and
0:26:39 --> 0:26:44
<v Speaker 5>the power of repentance. According to Jewish tradition, Ishmael wasn't
0:26:44 --> 0:26:48
<v Speaker 5>stuck in his problematic character traits. Perhaps influenced by his
0:26:48 --> 0:26:52
<v Speaker 5>holy parents and his brother's display of holiness, Ishmael changed
0:26:52 --> 0:26:56
<v Speaker 5>his ways. And you know what, that's something all of
0:26:56 --> 0:26:59
<v Speaker 5>us can do. I like to say that we are
0:26:59 --> 0:27:03
<v Speaker 5>always repenting, and here in this story, from the end
0:27:03 --> 0:27:08
<v Speaker 5>of Abraham's life, we can use his son Ishmael as inspiration.
0:27:09 --> 0:27:13
<v Speaker 5>So here we are the children of Abraham, the heirs
0:27:13 --> 0:27:16
<v Speaker 5>to a promise that spans the heavens and touches the earth.
0:27:17 --> 0:27:20
<v Speaker 5>How do we live in light of such a heritage?
0:27:20 --> 0:27:23
<v Speaker 5>We have the courage to trust God like Abraham did,
0:27:24 --> 0:27:27
<v Speaker 5>to step out in faith when the road is uncertain,
0:27:27 --> 0:27:31
<v Speaker 5>to live faithfully in every stage of life, no matter
0:27:31 --> 0:27:35
<v Speaker 5>what life brings to us. Well, I suggest that we
0:27:36 --> 0:27:39
<v Speaker 5>focused on not just living our lives, but leaving legacies
0:27:40 --> 0:27:44
<v Speaker 5>like Abraham, planting seeds of faith today that will bear
0:27:44 --> 0:27:48
<v Speaker 5>fruit long after we're gone. Let's bless our children and
0:27:48 --> 0:27:54
<v Speaker 5>our grandchildren by teaching them these stories of faith. Here's
0:27:54 --> 0:27:58
<v Speaker 5>a final blessing from here in the Holy Land for you.
0:27:59 --> 0:28:06
<v Speaker 5>Ivare Hashem Vi schmurecher Yeah, Heir hashempanave ilehacher ye sa
0:28:06 --> 0:28:12
<v Speaker 5>hashempanave Lechra Shellon. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
0:28:12 --> 0:28:15
<v Speaker 5>May the Lord make his face shine upon you. May
0:28:15 --> 0:28:18
<v Speaker 5>he be gracious to you. Made the Lord turn his
0:28:18 --> 0:28:21
<v Speaker 5>face towards you and give you peace.
0:28:22 --> 0:28:25
<v Speaker 1>Amen. You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle
0:28:25 --> 0:28:29
<v Speaker 1>Eckstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the prey
0:28:29 --> 0:28:34
<v Speaker 1>dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only
0:28:34 --> 0:28:38
<v Speaker 1>made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
0:28:39 --> 0:28:42
<v Speaker 1>Max Bard, Zach Shellabaga and Ben Gammon are the executive
0:28:42 --> 0:28:46
<v Speaker 1>producers of The Chosen People with Yaiel Eckstein, edited by
0:28:46 --> 0:28:51
<v Speaker 1>Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
0:28:51 --> 0:28:56
<v Speaker 1>Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
0:28:56 --> 0:29:01
<v Speaker 1>Silvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by music
0:29:01 --> 0:29:05
<v Speaker 1>by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and Aaron Salvato.
0:29:06 --> 0:29:10
<v Speaker 1>Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, Kayleb Burrows,
0:29:11 --> 0:29:14
<v Speaker 1>Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians
0:29:14 --> 0:29:18
<v Speaker 1>and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions
0:29:18 --> 0:29:20
<v Speaker 1>on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple
0:29:20 --> 0:29:23
<v Speaker 1>App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The
0:29:23 --> 0:29:27
<v Speaker 1>Chosen People with Yeile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
Related Episodes
The Tragedy of Dinah
# 43 - The Tragedy of Dinah - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein we confront the devastating consequences of violence, vengeance, and the pursuit of justice without mercy. This episode delves into one of the Bible's darkest chapters, exploring the complexities of human sin and ...
Jacob & Esau Reunited
# 42 - Jacob & Esau Reunited - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein we explore a powerful story of reconciliation, where years of betrayal and fear give way to forgiveness, healing, and restored relationships. This episode reveals timeless lessons on grace, courage, and the t...
Wrestling with God
# 41 - Wrestling with God - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein we dive into Jacob's transformative encounter at the Jabbok, where he wrestles not only with a mysterious figure but with his own identity and destiny. Discover profound lessons on struggle, perseverance, and findin...
