Genesis 25:1-11: a reflection

1Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah. 2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac, 6but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Abraham’s concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward, to the east country. 7These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years. 8Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre, 10the field which Abraham purchased from the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife. 11After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

This passage records the death of Abraham, who died at a good old age, full of years, and was gathered to his people. But notice a small and touching detail in the account of his burial: his sons Isaac and Ishmael together buried him in the cave of Machpelah. These two, who had been separated years before when Ishmael and his mother were sent away, now come together at their father's grave, united in a common loss and a common duty.

Notice the reunion of these estranged brothers at their father's burial. Isaac and Ishmael had been separated, their paths divided long before; and yet here they are, standing together to bury the father they shared, brought together by his death and the duty of honoring him. Whatever had divided them, in this moment they were united, joined in grief and in the shared task of laying their father to rest. Death and shared loss brought the estranged brothers together.

That quiet detail holds a hint of hope about reconciliation. Estrangement, even long estrangement, is not always the final word; the separated can come together again, sometimes through a shared loss or a common duty that reminds them of what binds them. Isaac and Ishmael, long apart, stood together at their father's grave. If you are estranged from someone, do not assume the separation must be permanent. Reconciliation is possible; the estranged can be brought together again. Look for what you still share, what might draw you back together, and be open, as these brothers were, to being reunited. Even long-divided paths can meet again; the God who brought Isaac and Ishmael together at their father's grave can bring reconciliation where there has been estrangement.

Lord, when Abraham died, his sons Isaac and Ishmael, long separated, came together to bury him, united in a common loss and a common duty; the estranged brothers were brought together again. Give me hope from that quiet detail about reconciliation. Estrangement, even long estrangement, is not always the final word; the separated can come together again, sometimes through a shared loss or common duty that reminds them of what binds them. If I am estranged from someone, keep me from assuming the separation must be permanent. Help me see that reconciliation is possible, that the estranged can be brought together again. Help me look for what I still share with those I am divided from, what might draw us back together, and to be open, as these brothers were, to being reunited. Even long-divided paths can meet again; you who brought Isaac and Ishmael together at their father's grave can bring reconciliation where there has been estrangement. Work such reconciliation in my life, Lord.