November 17, 2025 • 19 mins
# 31 - Father Abraham - In this episode of The Chosen People, Isaac reflects on the profound legacy left by his father, Abraham, as they prepare for his passing. Through moments of grief and remembrance, Isaac receives a final blessing and begins to understand the magnitude of the covenant passed down through their lineage.
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Episode 31 of The Chosen People is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Romans 4:9, “We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.”
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the chosen people.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Abram, who's there?
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Abram? You are to go out from your land, leave
your father's house and your relatives behind, and go to
the land I will show you.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Abram didn't know why this god chose him. He wasn't
a substantial or charismatic man. He wasn't even the greatest
in his household. How would he accomplish all that had foretold?
Speaker 4 (00:32):
El Elihon, the one and only true God. There is
the one who created both the heavens and the earth.
He has many names, but he is one god. The
God most high is what I call him before you.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Now, this is.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
The God of Abraham, the god who has given him
favor in his land.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
What is my destiny?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
What will be my see?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Can you count the stars? Abram?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Abram shook his head uncertain.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
You cannot, for there are too many. It is impossible.
It is to be the same with your offspring. The
great nation I shall make through your air would be
as innumerable as the stars in the night sky. Master Isaac,
(01:31):
your father Abraham seeks an audience with you straight away.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Thank you, I will be there shortly.
Speaker 6 (01:37):
It's still strange that these messages do not come from Eliezer,
isn't it it is?
Speaker 7 (01:44):
I confess the sadness of Eliezer's passing still comes over
me at the strangest times.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I've not quite recovered from it.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I do not think I'll stop feeling his loss for
quite some time.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
He was a loyal friend to your to me, and
especially to you.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
He was.
Speaker 6 (02:04):
So what do you suppose your father wants to see
you about? Surely he means to bless you.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Isaac wasn't sure what his father wanted to see him about.
But before he could state as much, Rebecca as he knew,
she always would answered for him.
Speaker 6 (02:20):
How could he not bless you? He's been handing more
and more of his responsibilities to you. He hardly leaves
camp at all anymore. And what of sending all of
Katura's children away? Removing any potential challengers to your birthright
is a wise move, as your father declines, Not that
I would anticipate that a former.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Slave, Rebecca Hagar has been reinstated as a wife now
not a slave?
Speaker 6 (02:44):
Yes, yes, a wife and not a slave.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
She has a Hebrew name and is worthy of honor.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
But you know as well as I that she has
no mind for politics. I'm not sure she would orchestrate
her children to conspire against you, but I appreciate that
Abraham is not taking that chance.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
My uncles would try to take our birthride.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
No, they You don't know that the law does not
grant them an inheritance, but these things happen. Sending them
away was very prudent of your father.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Indeed, grandfather gave them all gifts before they went, even
Uncle Midian and his sons, which was.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Very generous and noble of your grandfather.
Speaker 6 (03:27):
Yes, but it's still not an inheritance.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
No, it is not. I should go see my father,
then we will no longer remain in mystery.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Isaac kissed his wife and ruffled his son's hair before
he left their tent. Jacob was always underfoot listening. The
boy was almost a man now and becoming increasingly clever
by the day. He was his mother's child in every way,
quick to act and even quicker to arrive at a
conclusion between the two of them.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Who was all.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Isaac could do to keep up. As he passed through
the vast caravan to his father's tent, he wondered where
Esau had run off to lightly out hunting Isaac's mouth
watered at the thought. An absent Esau usually meant that
a warm meal would await him when he arrived home. Later,
(04:22):
Isaac was greeted at the tense entrance by a servant,
and he saw a physician exit his father's sleeping quarters.
The man nodded to him solemnly as he departed, but
said nothing. Isaac's stomach tightened in response. This feeling was
all too familiar. It was much the same when Elieza
became sick. Isaac tamped down his fears and approached his
(04:45):
father's sleeping quarters, where he found his father.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Abed, Oh, my sad.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
Father, No, listen carefully, azukn see. I do not have
much longer. My time amongst you is almost at an end.
I would give you my blessing now, while I am
(05:15):
still of a sound mind.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I would be honored to receive it. Father.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Isaac inhaled sharply as he tried to keep the tears
from freely falling down his cheeks. He knelt at his
father's side beside his bedroll and bowed his head as
his father grasped his shoulder with surprising strength for his
weakened condition.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
My beloved Isaac, mey, Oh God, bless you and keep you.
May you walk in His ways all the days of
your life, and may you be the blessing to all nations,
as God promised to me. May you inherit the land
(06:04):
promised to us, and may your descendants be as countless
as the stars in the sky. May the Lord establish
his covenant with you and your offspring forever, and may
his promises be fulfilled through your faithfulness and obedience. My
(06:32):
dear Isaac, May you be a blessing to generations to come.
And may our God be your God now and forevermore.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Isaac was speechless of this beautiful speech, which formerly bound
him to the precious promise made to his father. He
swore to do everything in his power to uphold it
and steward his part their legacy well. Isaac and his
father talked and reminisced about all they had seen and
accomplished in their lives, of Isaac's children and their hopes
(07:10):
for them, and of Sarah. They spoke, laughed, and cried
until Abraham grew weary and needed rest. Feeling fulfilled and nostalgic,
Isaac returned to his beloved wife and children, As he
departed from his father's tent, he noticed that he seemed
to surprise Katurah, Abram's second wife. Lingering at the entrance,
(07:34):
Isaac offered a smile, but as always, she averted her
eyes respectfully orbeard a little awkwardly. Isaac never wanted to
make anyone uncomfortable, but he supposed it was unavoidable given
their history. He bowed his head to her and left.
(07:54):
Days passed slowly into weeks, and Isaac received the summons
he was most dreading to receive. His father, the great
and Noble Abraham was dead. Mourners were already gathering and
keening outside of his father's tent when he arrived to
fulfill the task of closing his cherished father's eyes for
(08:16):
the last time. The finality of closing a second parent's
eyes was almost enough to break Isaac. Gone was his
parental guidance from the face of this earth. How would
he lead and love his people without their watchful eyes
and wise words. He clung to the lessons he had
gleaned from their lifetimes, but feared he would fumble as
(08:39):
he carried their legacies forward. He stayed and wept beside
the lifeless body of his father at the foot of
this great man, until he had exhausted every tear and
bit of strength from his body. Rebecca faithfully stayed by
his side all the while. When it was finally time
to leave to let the servants see to their task
(09:02):
of preparing his body for burial, he leaned on her
as she guided him through the throng of mourners and
well wishes. Beyond them all and just out of sight,
there seemed to be a commotion at the edge of camp. Numbly,
Isaac saw that it had not escaped Rebecca's sharp gaze.
(09:23):
He was sure she would connect the dots for him later.
Whatever this disturbance was, it could wait. But it turned
out it would not wait. Whispers spread through the camp
with such ferocity that even Isaac, in his vortex of grief,
could not escape hearing the news. Ishmael was back.
Speaker 6 (09:47):
Ishmael arrived just as your father drew his last breath,
and the other challengers have been sent away.
Speaker 7 (09:54):
They were not challengers, and we do not yet know
Ishmael's motives, do we not, Rebecca, You do not know him.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I do not know him. He was sent away when
I was just a Babe, we cannot claim to know
his mind.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
Well, we surely know who did this. His Egyptian mother
must have sent word you yourself said you saw her
lingering about the tent when Abraham gave you his blessing,
his last will and testament. She would have him challenge
your father's intentions.
Speaker 7 (10:24):
Challenge you, please, Rebecca, no more scheming. It is right
that the woman told her son to come pay respects
to his father.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You forget.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
Ishmael was my father's heir for many years before I
was born. He is circumcised the same as me. He
may very well hold many of our customs. Still, I
hear he's on his way to building a nation of
his own out in the wilderness of Baran. Surely challenge
is not on his mind, with all that responsibility on
(10:55):
his shoulders.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
I do not like it. The timing worries me.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
I know, my love.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
I'm sure he'll call on us soon, and then his
intentions will be made clear.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Isaac was right. Not an hour later, a servant arrived
to tell them Ishmael was on his way to meet
with them. Esau and Jacob looked innocently at their father,
picking up on their mother's worry.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Father, What will you call them?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Is he brother?
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Is he uncle by blood but not by law. When
grandfather divorced his mother, Hagar, he lost his inheritance, but
she did come back and we call her by Katura.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Now, boys, he will.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Be here soon.
Speaker 6 (11:44):
Stop your quarreling.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Thank you, Rebecca.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
Just address him as Master Ishmael, be respectful and be
done with it. We do not know what he wants,
but we will be gracious hosts while he's under our tent.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Just then, a formidable man entered the tent in the
wake of Isaac's servant. The boy Isaac, barely remembered as
a toddler, had grown into a leader and warrior. You
could see his physical and tactical prowess in how he
carried himself and quickly inefficiently surveyed the room. His arms
(12:19):
were thick and tight, like braided rope. His eyes, piercing
and intense, reminded him of an eagle.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
Master Isaac, I present Master Ishmael of the Paran Wilderness.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
Brother, you have grown since we last met, as have you,
Master Ishmael. I must admit I would be surprised if
he remembered me at all. I'm a simple man, but
I have the memory of a fortified tower.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
The two men chuckled as they took each other's measure.
Isaac could sense the tension softening his wife beside him,
but she did not relax entirely. It was indeed a
relief that Ishmael came with such an agreeable demeanor, even
amid all that was happening around them. He could tell
that his sons were impressed with the man as well.
(13:09):
In fact, there was almost a kindred spirit between young
Esau and the great warrior who stood before them. They
both seemed wild and powerful in their own ways. Even
Jacob's calculating assessment must have found the man to be
a worthy leader. After all, the man had accomplished so
much through the family he had built in a relatively
(13:32):
short period of time out in the desert.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
May I present my wife, Mistress Rebecca, daughter of Bethel,
and my twin sons, Esau and Jacob twins.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
I have twelve children, and none of them are twins.
Speaker 7 (13:48):
Where I live, twins are considered to be gifts from
the Sun and moon.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Blest.
Speaker 6 (13:55):
Yes, we have been doubly blessed, Master Ishmael.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
I must admit, Master Ishmail, we would not anticipate in
your arrival. As you can imagine, there is much to do,
so we can bury our father.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Ishmael, at the mention of their father, stepped to Isaac
and grabbed his shoulder in a boldly comforting manner. The
movement surprised Isaac, but it was not unwelcome.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Isaac.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
When I heard of Abraham's death, I wept for days.
Though my departure left a deep wound. Father raised me
to be strong and competent. The tools he gave me
were invaluable in the wilderness. My heart is with you
as well. I cannot imagine the grief you must feel.
(14:44):
Please allow me to assist you in burying him. This
is why I have come all this way. I must
see the father is laid to rest in peace.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Thank you, Ishmail.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
I would be honored to have you at my side
to bury. It is I who am honored. Thank you
for receiving me.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
And so the reunited brothers buried their father together. Abraham
was buried beside his beloved Sarah in the cave of Machpelah,
which he had purchased from Ephron, son of Zohar. The
hetheite Abraham was buried in the land he was promised
by his God, and on a portion of it that
(15:28):
he rightfully owned, just as he had done when his
mother had died. Isaac stayed back when the other mourners
and even his own family made their way back to
the caravan. He sat there a long while in his
own grief and reflected back on his mother's and father's memories,
enjoying the peaceful quiet of the serene edge of the field.
(15:50):
When Isaac finally departed from the tomb, he again wondered
at his father's wisdom in making the purchase of the
land and cave for their family. He knew that in
this place, too, he would be buried, and his wife
and his children after him. It was humbling to stand
in the shadow of what would become his family's monument
(16:11):
on this earth, and far more humbling still to consider
the generations that God promised would come after. Ishmael shared
with Isaac how his God had been with him since
the time he and his mother, Hagar had been cast out.
Ishmael had grown to be a great clan leader, the
one Abraham had raised him to be. His nation would
(16:34):
only grow from here and Isaac's other half siblings. They
would surely multiply now that they were spreading out to
the east. It was as if Isaac could see the
beginnings of their God's promise in his lifetime. Already he
was beginning to understand the stories his father told him
of uncountable stars and dust. Almost in answer to his
(16:57):
weighty thoughts, Isaac suddenly noticed the stillness of the night
around him. The stars above him seemed brighter, and the
cool breeze of the evening seemed as if it had disappeared,
and the air around him seemed fixed in place. The
crickets and chirps of the night time chorus ceased as well.
(17:18):
All the world around him held its breath in reverence
as a glorious and comforting presence fell upon him, And
then came a voice, just like the one he had
heard as a boy upon that lonely mountain and makeshift
altar all those years ago. Isaac dropped to his knee, trembling,
(17:39):
and bowed his head to receive the word of his
father's God.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Isaac, son of my servant Abraham, you have spent a
lifetime following your father as he followed me. I come
now to bless you to carry out the promise I
made to your father. Through your lifetime, your family's name
will be great, and I will bless those who bless
(18:07):
you and curse those who curse you. Through your lineage,
all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Today
I re establish my covenant with you and your offspring.
May you follow me as faithfully as your father did,
(18:28):
and may you raise your sons to do the same
after you.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
Thank you, My God will do all that you ask
of me.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
With that, the voice receded, leaving that same comforting presence
behind in the back of his mind. It was just
out of reach, but Isaac could sense it there. It
gave him the confidence he was seeking to take up
his father's mantle, and it gave him great comfort in
his beloved father's absence. This Prey dot com production is
(19:04):
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Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger, and Ben Gammon are
the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu.
Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz,
Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher,
(19:29):
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Previously on the chosen people.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Abram, who's there?
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Abram? You are to go out from your land, leave
your father's house and your relatives behind, and go to
the land I will show you.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Abram didn't know why this god chose him. He wasn't
a substantial or charismatic man. He wasn't even the greatest
in his household. How would he accomplish all that had foretold?
Speaker 4 (00:32):
El Elihon, the one and only true God. There is
the one who created both the heavens and the earth.
He has many names, but he is one god. The
God most high is what I call him before you.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Now, this is.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
The God of Abraham, the god who has given him
favor in his land.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
What is my destiny?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
What will be my see?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Can you count the stars? Abram?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Abram shook his head uncertain.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
You cannot, for there are too many. It is impossible.
It is to be the same with your offspring. The
great nation I shall make through your air would be
as innumerable as the stars in the night sky. Master Isaac,
(01:31):
your father Abraham seeks an audience with you straight away.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Thank you, I will be there shortly.
Speaker 6 (01:37):
It's still strange that these messages do not come from Eliezer,
isn't it it is?
Speaker 7 (01:44):
I confess the sadness of Eliezer's passing still comes over
me at the strangest times.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I've not quite recovered from it.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I do not think I'll stop feeling his loss for
quite some time.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
He was a loyal friend to your to me, and
especially to you.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
He was.
Speaker 6 (02:04):
So what do you suppose your father wants to see
you about? Surely he means to bless you.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Isaac wasn't sure what his father wanted to see him about.
But before he could state as much, Rebecca as he knew,
she always would answered for him.
Speaker 6 (02:20):
How could he not bless you? He's been handing more
and more of his responsibilities to you. He hardly leaves
camp at all anymore. And what of sending all of
Katura's children away? Removing any potential challengers to your birthright
is a wise move, as your father declines, Not that
I would anticipate that a former.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Slave, Rebecca Hagar has been reinstated as a wife now
not a slave?
Speaker 6 (02:44):
Yes, yes, a wife and not a slave.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
She has a Hebrew name and is worthy of honor.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
But you know as well as I that she has
no mind for politics. I'm not sure she would orchestrate
her children to conspire against you, but I appreciate that
Abraham is not taking that chance.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
My uncles would try to take our birthride.
Speaker 6 (03:06):
No, they You don't know that the law does not
grant them an inheritance, but these things happen. Sending them
away was very prudent of your father.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
Indeed, grandfather gave them all gifts before they went, even
Uncle Midian and his sons, which was.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Very generous and noble of your grandfather.
Speaker 6 (03:27):
Yes, but it's still not an inheritance.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
No, it is not. I should go see my father,
then we will no longer remain in mystery.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Isaac kissed his wife and ruffled his son's hair before
he left their tent. Jacob was always underfoot listening. The
boy was almost a man now and becoming increasingly clever
by the day. He was his mother's child in every way,
quick to act and even quicker to arrive at a
conclusion between the two of them.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Who was all.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Isaac could do to keep up. As he passed through
the vast caravan to his father's tent, he wondered where
Esau had run off to lightly out hunting Isaac's mouth
watered at the thought. An absent Esau usually meant that
a warm meal would await him when he arrived home. Later,
(04:22):
Isaac was greeted at the tense entrance by a servant,
and he saw a physician exit his father's sleeping quarters.
The man nodded to him solemnly as he departed, but
said nothing. Isaac's stomach tightened in response. This feeling was
all too familiar. It was much the same when Elieza
became sick. Isaac tamped down his fears and approached his
(04:45):
father's sleeping quarters, where he found his father.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Abed, Oh, my sad.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
Father, No, listen carefully, azukn see. I do not have
much longer. My time amongst you is almost at an end.
I would give you my blessing now, while I am
(05:15):
still of a sound mind.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I would be honored to receive it. Father.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Isaac inhaled sharply as he tried to keep the tears
from freely falling down his cheeks. He knelt at his
father's side beside his bedroll and bowed his head as
his father grasped his shoulder with surprising strength for his
weakened condition.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
My beloved Isaac, mey, Oh God, bless you and keep you.
May you walk in His ways all the days of
your life, and may you be the blessing to all nations,
as God promised to me. May you inherit the land
(06:04):
promised to us, and may your descendants be as countless
as the stars in the sky. May the Lord establish
his covenant with you and your offspring forever, and may
his promises be fulfilled through your faithfulness and obedience. My
(06:32):
dear Isaac, May you be a blessing to generations to come.
And may our God be your God now and forevermore.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Isaac was speechless of this beautiful speech, which formerly bound
him to the precious promise made to his father. He
swore to do everything in his power to uphold it
and steward his part their legacy well. Isaac and his
father talked and reminisced about all they had seen and
accomplished in their lives, of Isaac's children and their hopes
(07:10):
for them, and of Sarah. They spoke, laughed, and cried
until Abraham grew weary and needed rest. Feeling fulfilled and nostalgic,
Isaac returned to his beloved wife and children, As he
departed from his father's tent, he noticed that he seemed
to surprise Katurah, Abram's second wife. Lingering at the entrance,
(07:34):
Isaac offered a smile, but as always, she averted her
eyes respectfully orbeard a little awkwardly. Isaac never wanted to
make anyone uncomfortable, but he supposed it was unavoidable given
their history. He bowed his head to her and left.
(07:54):
Days passed slowly into weeks, and Isaac received the summons
he was most dreading to receive. His father, the great
and Noble Abraham was dead. Mourners were already gathering and
keening outside of his father's tent when he arrived to
fulfill the task of closing his cherished father's eyes for
(08:16):
the last time. The finality of closing a second parent's
eyes was almost enough to break Isaac. Gone was his
parental guidance from the face of this earth. How would
he lead and love his people without their watchful eyes
and wise words. He clung to the lessons he had
gleaned from their lifetimes, but feared he would fumble as
(08:39):
he carried their legacies forward. He stayed and wept beside
the lifeless body of his father at the foot of
this great man, until he had exhausted every tear and
bit of strength from his body. Rebecca faithfully stayed by
his side all the while. When it was finally time
to leave to let the servants see to their task
(09:02):
of preparing his body for burial, he leaned on her
as she guided him through the throng of mourners and
well wishes. Beyond them all and just out of sight,
there seemed to be a commotion at the edge of camp. Numbly,
Isaac saw that it had not escaped Rebecca's sharp gaze.
(09:23):
He was sure she would connect the dots for him later.
Whatever this disturbance was, it could wait. But it turned
out it would not wait. Whispers spread through the camp
with such ferocity that even Isaac, in his vortex of grief,
could not escape hearing the news. Ishmael was back.
Speaker 6 (09:47):
Ishmael arrived just as your father drew his last breath,
and the other challengers have been sent away.
Speaker 7 (09:54):
They were not challengers, and we do not yet know
Ishmael's motives, do we not, Rebecca, You do not know him.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I do not know him. He was sent away when
I was just a Babe, we cannot claim to know
his mind.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
Well, we surely know who did this. His Egyptian mother
must have sent word you yourself said you saw her
lingering about the tent when Abraham gave you his blessing,
his last will and testament. She would have him challenge
your father's intentions.
Speaker 7 (10:24):
Challenge you, please, Rebecca, no more scheming. It is right
that the woman told her son to come pay respects
to his father.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You forget.
Speaker 7 (10:35):
Ishmael was my father's heir for many years before I
was born. He is circumcised the same as me. He
may very well hold many of our customs. Still, I
hear he's on his way to building a nation of
his own out in the wilderness of Baran. Surely challenge
is not on his mind, with all that responsibility on
(10:55):
his shoulders.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
I do not like it. The timing worries me.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
I know, my love.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
I'm sure he'll call on us soon, and then his
intentions will be made clear.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Isaac was right. Not an hour later, a servant arrived
to tell them Ishmael was on his way to meet
with them. Esau and Jacob looked innocently at their father,
picking up on their mother's worry.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Father, What will you call them?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Is he brother?
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Is he uncle by blood but not by law. When
grandfather divorced his mother, Hagar, he lost his inheritance, but
she did come back and we call her by Katura.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Now, boys, he will.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Be here soon.
Speaker 6 (11:44):
Stop your quarreling.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Thank you, Rebecca.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
Just address him as Master Ishmael, be respectful and be
done with it. We do not know what he wants,
but we will be gracious hosts while he's under our tent.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Just then, a formidable man entered the tent in the
wake of Isaac's servant. The boy Isaac, barely remembered as
a toddler, had grown into a leader and warrior. You
could see his physical and tactical prowess in how he
carried himself and quickly inefficiently surveyed the room. His arms
(12:19):
were thick and tight, like braided rope. His eyes, piercing
and intense, reminded him of an eagle.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
Master Isaac, I present Master Ishmael of the Paran Wilderness.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
Brother, you have grown since we last met, as have you,
Master Ishmael. I must admit I would be surprised if
he remembered me at all. I'm a simple man, but
I have the memory of a fortified tower.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
The two men chuckled as they took each other's measure.
Isaac could sense the tension softening his wife beside him,
but she did not relax entirely. It was indeed a
relief that Ishmael came with such an agreeable demeanor, even
amid all that was happening around them. He could tell
that his sons were impressed with the man as well.
(13:09):
In fact, there was almost a kindred spirit between young
Esau and the great warrior who stood before them. They
both seemed wild and powerful in their own ways. Even
Jacob's calculating assessment must have found the man to be
a worthy leader. After all, the man had accomplished so
much through the family he had built in a relatively
(13:32):
short period of time out in the desert.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
May I present my wife, Mistress Rebecca, daughter of Bethel,
and my twin sons, Esau and Jacob twins.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
I have twelve children, and none of them are twins.
Speaker 7 (13:48):
Where I live, twins are considered to be gifts from
the Sun and moon.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Blest.
Speaker 6 (13:55):
Yes, we have been doubly blessed, Master Ishmael.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
I must admit, Master Ishmail, we would not anticipate in
your arrival. As you can imagine, there is much to do,
so we can bury our father.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Ishmael, at the mention of their father, stepped to Isaac
and grabbed his shoulder in a boldly comforting manner. The
movement surprised Isaac, but it was not unwelcome.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Isaac.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
When I heard of Abraham's death, I wept for days.
Though my departure left a deep wound. Father raised me
to be strong and competent. The tools he gave me
were invaluable in the wilderness. My heart is with you
as well. I cannot imagine the grief you must feel.
(14:44):
Please allow me to assist you in burying him. This
is why I have come all this way. I must
see the father is laid to rest in peace.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Thank you, Ishmail.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
I would be honored to have you at my side
to bury. It is I who am honored. Thank you
for receiving me.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
And so the reunited brothers buried their father together. Abraham
was buried beside his beloved Sarah in the cave of Machpelah,
which he had purchased from Ephron, son of Zohar. The
hetheite Abraham was buried in the land he was promised
by his God, and on a portion of it that
(15:28):
he rightfully owned, just as he had done when his
mother had died. Isaac stayed back when the other mourners
and even his own family made their way back to
the caravan. He sat there a long while in his
own grief and reflected back on his mother's and father's memories,
enjoying the peaceful quiet of the serene edge of the field.
(15:50):
When Isaac finally departed from the tomb, he again wondered
at his father's wisdom in making the purchase of the
land and cave for their family. He knew that in
this place, too, he would be buried, and his wife
and his children after him. It was humbling to stand
in the shadow of what would become his family's monument
(16:11):
on this earth, and far more humbling still to consider
the generations that God promised would come after. Ishmael shared
with Isaac how his God had been with him since
the time he and his mother, Hagar had been cast out.
Ishmael had grown to be a great clan leader, the
one Abraham had raised him to be. His nation would
(16:34):
only grow from here and Isaac's other half siblings. They
would surely multiply now that they were spreading out to
the east. It was as if Isaac could see the
beginnings of their God's promise in his lifetime. Already he
was beginning to understand the stories his father told him
of uncountable stars and dust. Almost in answer to his
(16:57):
weighty thoughts, Isaac suddenly noticed the stillness of the night
around him. The stars above him seemed brighter, and the
cool breeze of the evening seemed as if it had disappeared,
and the air around him seemed fixed in place. The
crickets and chirps of the night time chorus ceased as well.
(17:18):
All the world around him held its breath in reverence
as a glorious and comforting presence fell upon him, And
then came a voice, just like the one he had
heard as a boy upon that lonely mountain and makeshift
altar all those years ago. Isaac dropped to his knee, trembling,
(17:39):
and bowed his head to receive the word of his
father's God.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Isaac, son of my servant Abraham, you have spent a
lifetime following your father as he followed me. I come
now to bless you to carry out the promise I
made to your father. Through your lifetime, your family's name
will be great, and I will bless those who bless
(18:07):
you and curse those who curse you. Through your lineage,
all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Today
I re establish my covenant with you and your offspring.
May you follow me as faithfully as your father did,
(18:28):
and may you raise your sons to do the same
after you.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
Thank you, My God will do all that you ask
of me.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
With that, the voice receded, leaving that same comforting presence
behind in the back of his mind. It was just
out of reach, but Isaac could sense it there. It
gave him the confidence he was seeking to take up
his father's mantle, and it gave him great comfort in
his beloved father's absence. This Prey dot com production is
(19:04):
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger, and Ben Gammon are
the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu.
Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz,
Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher,
(19:29):
and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by
Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear
more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app,
available on the Apple App Store and Google play Store.
If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave
a review,
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