In this episode we continue studying the Book of Genesis. In this episode Abraham died at 175 years old, his two sons Isaac and Ishmael bury him in the cave where Sarah is buried.

We also discover that before he died Abraham married again and had 6 more children by his wife named Keturah.

We note that Keturah means incense, and a key related word for incense means fumigation, in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the occupants, to smoke, that is, turn into fragrance by fire especially as an act of worship. To burn incense or a sacrifice upon an altar.

Is Keturah another type or figure of the church,? Sarah has cast out the mockers and those unwilling to work, Rebekah has come in, bearing water to refresh and cleanse, and now Keturah comes in with incense, restoring prayer and true worship in God’s house.

Incense represents prayer. David said in Psalms chapter 141 verse 2, let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Jesus said in Mark chapter 11 verse 17. Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer, but you made it a den of thieves.

The King’s commentary says, "Instead of turning God’s house into a house where God is worshiped with reverence, man has made it an area of business and profit. It has become “a robber’s den” because of unfair profit and because of robbing God of His honor. In Christianity, Christians are robbed of salvation, of the Christ of the Scriptures, while they think it is all for sale."

So we have a three strand cord Sarah, Rebekah and Keturah doing the work of God, preparing the workers and restoring prayer and true worship in God’s house.

We note that like Sarah, Rebekah was barren for awhile but Isaac prayed for her and God heard his prayer.

By reading the text it seems as if God answered his prayer immediately but she was barren for 20 years.

God sometimes acts suddenly instead of quickly. While quickly refers to speed, suddenly has an element of surprise.

After waiting 20 years then all of sudden, surprise she’s pregnant with twins.

Rebekah had two boys, one named Esau and one named Jacob. Esau was a man of the field and Jacob dwelt in the tents.

Isaac loved Esau because he could cook well.

But Rebekah loved Jacob because of the prophecy God gave her. God told her that two nations were in her womb and the younger son would be stronger than the older son and the older son would serve the younger son.

The prophecy began to manifest on the day Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew.

The one who was called a man of the field, came home empty. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 13 verse 38, that the field is the world. So the one who spent most of his time out in the world came home faint, weary and empty handed. But the one who dwelt in the presence of God had all his needs supplied

The text says, Esau sold his birthright because he despised it. Despised means to lightly esteem. At the moment, while he was hungry the birthright seemed like a little thing.

We learn from Esau's life he was a man of appetite he had 3 wives and apparently loved to eat. I once read a book by C.S. Lovett, he said if a person has a hard time controlling his appetite for food, he will also have a hard time controlling other areas of his life, especially lust.

Paul warns us about the power of the belly in Philippians chapter 3 verses 18 through 21:

Philippians 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Philippians3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Philippians 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Philippians 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.