Strength for Today

Back in January I began studying the life of Abraham in Genesis 12. Today I finished that study by reading Genesis 25. Abraham casts a long shadow over the book of Genesis. But after Sarah died, Abraham took a second wife, named Keturah (Gen. 25:1). She bore six more sons (vs. 2-4). Abraham gave all that he possessed to Isaac. But then we read, "But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east" (v. 6). What is this? "The concubines which Abraham had"? That doesn't sound good at all. This is not finishing well. The sons of Keturah whom he sent east eventually aligned themselves with Ishmael, and the descendants of the wild man Ishmael have been a thorn in the side to the nation of Israel ever since. Abraham lived to be 175, died, and was buried next to Sarah. I have seen this happen more than once. A godly man (or woman) loses his mate, remarries, and the second marriage is not a good one. I don't know if that was the case with Keturah or not, but what is it with the concubines that Abraham had? That seems so out of character with the man we admire so much. Loneliness and sorrow can sometimes cause a person to do questionable things. I am not judging Abraham; I am merely commenting on what the Bible says about Abraham in his last days. Let us pray to God that we will finish well.