Domestic Burdens – Genesis 25:1-34

“A joy shared is a double joy, but a burden shared is half a burden.” – Bob Russell When burdens weigh us down, it often helps to remember that we are not alone. Burdens are part of life. Domestic or family burdens, though they vary in kind, are also part of every family.

Transition

This morning we are going to look at four domestic burdens in Abraham’s family in order to learn how we are to respond to similar situations.

The Burden of Loneliness after Loss of Spouse

Abraham was about 137 when Sarah died.
1. That is very old by today’s scale, but not as old in those days.
2. God does not tell us that Abraham was lonely, but it appears that he was for he chose to remarry. His new wife is Keturah (v.1).
3. God gave Abraham six sons by Keturah (v.2).
God approves of remarriage after the death of a spouse.
1. Jesus tells us that He designed marriage to be a life-long, unbreakable covenant. Only death can break that covenant.(Matthew 19:5) “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?”
  (Matthew 19:6) “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
2. If your marriage covenant broke before the death of your spouse and you have remarried, that is not what God planned. However, if you will admit the wrong to God and to all those involved, God promises to forgive.(1 John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
3. God approves of marriage after the death of a spouse as He explains in the following verses.(Romans 7:2) “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.”
  (1 Corinthians 7:39) “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.”
  
  (1 Timothy 5:14) “I will therefore that the younger women [widows] marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

The Burden of Death in the Family

Abraham died when he was 175 years old (v.7-8).
1. Even when a person is very old, death is always a sad occasion.
2. Isaac and Ishmael buried their father in the cave of Machpelah with Sarah his wife.
Review the truths about death we found in Gen 23
1. Death is inevitable
2. Mourning is natural
3. Preparation is priceless

The Burden of Barrenness

For 20 years of marriage Rebekah was barren.
1. Isaac was forty when they were marriage (v.20).
2. Isaac was sixty when his boys were born (v.26).
3. Barrenness is a real burden.
  1. Isaac wanted a son.
  2. Rebekah felt like a failure. She also felt the cultural shame of not being able to have a child. We see this later in the lives of women like Hannah (1Sa 1:2), Manoah’s wife (Jud 13:2), and Elisabeth (Lu 1:7).
4. The Psalmist wrote,(Psalms 127:3) “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
  Though many today selfishly view children as an unwanted burden, God says they are an inheritance and a reward. They are valuable treasures.
Isaac did the wisest thing he could do for Rebekah
1. He entreated the LORD for his wife. God does not tell us how many times he prayed nor how many years he may have prayed. All we know is that he prayed.
2. God answered his prayer and Rebekah conceived.
3. Barron couples often wonder why God will not allow them to have children. We may not always know God’s thoughts and ways, but we can rest in His wisdom.(Isaiah 55:8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
  (Isaiah 55:9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
4. When God does not see fit to answer our prayers, we must lay our burdens at his feet.(Psalms 55:22) “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

The Burden of Sibling Rivalry

Sibling rivalry is competition between brothers and sisters. Children should not feel they have to compete with their siblings for love or approval, and they should never compete for advantage.

Rivalry is fuelled by parental favouritism
1. The boys had opposite personalities (v.27).
2. Isaac loved Esau and Rebekah loved Jacob (v.28). Favouritism is always wrong and harmful. In this case it caused sibling rivalry to worsen.
3. Every child is different. With some your personality will click and with others it will clash. When that happens, you must work extra hard to love each one equally. Pray for them equally. Treat them with equal kindness. Children should not always expect to receive the same things as their siblings. They need to develop as individuals, but we must be fair.
Jacob and Esau were sinful rivals
1. Esau, as the firstborn, was to receive the family birthright and blessing.
  1. “The special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son.” Easton’s Bible Dictionary
  2. “A double portion fell to the firstborn, compare Deu 21:15-17.” Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
  3. The firstborn also received a special blessing from his father before his death. “While it is true that the birthright centred more on property and official position over the tribe, and the blessing concentrated more on the giving of something personal.” Peter Pett Commentary
2. Jacob wanted his twin brother’s birthright and blessing and planned a way to get it (v.29-34).
  1. Jacob was home cooking soup when Esau came home very hungry from a tiring hunting trip (v.29).
  2. Esau asked for a bowl of soup (v.30).
  3. Jacob offered to sell a bowl of soup for the priceless birthright (v.31). Jacob was a deceiver.
  4. Esau foolishly sold his priceless birthright for a bowl of lentil soup (v.32-34). His values were wrong!
3. Much of this sibling rivalry could have been prevented if Isaac and Rebekah would have taught the boys character instead of playing favourites.

Conclusion

When burdens come into your domestic life, give your burdens to the Lord. Follow the Bible’s counsel. Ask the Lord for help and wisdom. Draw comfort from the Lord. Parents, study the book of Proverbs for guidance and wisdom in rearing your children. Children, treat your brothers and sisters as you want to be treated.

If you are not a child of God, you cannot give your burdens to the Lord. He is not your heavenly Father. To become a child of God you must receive Christ as your Saviour from the judgment of hell. If you have not yet done that, will you do it today?

Song: Burdens Are Lifted – 218 Cast your burden on the Lord.
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Domestic Burdens
5 October 2014 AM – Genesis 25:1-34 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs