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"Abraham gave all he had to Isaac."
(Genesis 25:5)
I often marvel at the marital relationships in the Bible. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (that's the extreme case!). But even Jacob's 2 wives and 2 concubines (his wives' maidservants who also became mothers of his children) seems like too much to handle. Sometimes we may fantasize about the romantic element to multiple relationships, but the day-to-day hard work, commitment & attention needed for just one relationship quickly dissolves my daydreams. It takes all I have to be fully present to Jody - my one, wonderfully loving spouse!
Having said that, I was struck by the Abraham story today when I read Genesis 25. Sarah (Abraham's wife) has died. He's taken on another wife (Keturah), has 6 children with her... and the author then mentions there are other children from his concubines. So we don't know exactly how many women fathered his children, or how many children he actually had. But this much is sure: Isaac (his 2nd-born, after Ishmael) is his favorite. Isaac is his "child of promise." Isaac was Sarah's only child.
Before he died, Abraham gave "gifts" to his children... then sent them away "to the east country." The author also tells us that "he gave all he had to Isaac." Wow. I know Isaac was his favorite, but it seems like his other children got the shaft, doesn't it?!? "Thank you for playing, here's your parting gift." What's up with that?
Par of why the Bible was written was to help explain "the way things are." We know there has been fighting in the Middle East for millennia. The Arab/Israeli conflict can be traced back to Abraham. Isaac's offspring became the Israelites. Every other child of Abraham became the Arab nations. So I get the "this is why it is what it is" part of this story. But it doesn't mean I have to like it.
How might things be different NOW had Abraham decided to split his stuff evenly with ALL his children? And how might WE treat all of our children with the same love, grace, and support? Not just our biological offspring, but ALL the children of the world? Just imagine...
May it be so.