Jump Start # 1883

Genesis 25:8 “Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.”

This week we have focused upon the different expressions found in this powerful verse. There remains one more to look at. Abraham after he died was “gathered to his people.”

Gathered to his people is used later in the chapter to describe the death of Ishmael (25:17). That same phrase is used at the death of Isaac (Gen 35:29); Jacob (Gen 49:33) and, Aaron (Num 20:26). What does it mean to be “gathered to your people?”

For Abraham, he had left most of his people when God called him out of Ur. It doesn’t seem like Aaron and Abraham were buried in the same location, or cemetery as we might express it today. Probably, the expression is used to talk about the dead. Abraham was gathered among the dead. There is a time to be born and a time to die, as Ecclesiastes states it.

But I think there may be more to it than saying he was simply dead. When challenged by the Sadducees about the resurrection, Jesus said, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Mt 22:32). Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—not only direct family descendants, and not only receivers of God’s promises, but these three were said to have been “gathered to their people.” The point Jesus was making was that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were alive. Not here. Not on earth. But their souls were alive. These Sadducees who did not believe in a resurrection were told about the I AM of God. God was still the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It wasn’t that He used to be. Or, He once was. I AM. Currently. Present tense. At death, they were gathered among their people. God was still their God and they were still alive.

Death isn’t the end of us. There is no “The End” to our story. We switch rooms. We are not bound by physical things such as a body and all the elements of this planet. We aren’t governed by time. We do not have to eat. We do not suffer from disease, weather or traffic. We no longer age. We are gathered to our people.

The Thessalonians were told by Paul, that when Christ returns, He will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus, Christians. The living will be caught up with them. These words were to comfort the those who had lost loved ones. They are not forgotten by God. They were not “gone.” It wasn’t “over” for them. They remain on. They live on. They are with the Lord. They have been gathered to the Lord. There is a comfort in knowing that. There is a comfort in realizing that the righteous have not been forsaken, forgotten or lost. There is comfort in realizing that all those years of walking with the Lord and all those years of worshipping God were not in vain. God knew. God had them. They were with God. They had been gathered to God.

Comfort one another with these words, that’s how this Thessalonian section ends. There is comfort in knowing that the righteous are gathered to the Lord. There is comfort in knowing that God will care for them. There is comfort in knowing that they are forever safe with the Lord. Safe in the arms of Jesus, great hymn and a comforting thought.

There is a purpose for all that we do. It’s more than to just live good lives. It’s more than just pleasing God. It ends with us being gathered to God forever.

Now, all of this brings two powerful thoughts to us:

First, knowing that we will be gathered to God someday, helps us keep our eyes on the Lord and it helps us from getting bogged down with the things that do not matter. Fussing about our President seems to be the new national sport. Folks can get so caught up in who said what and what does that mean, that we lose our focus. Just as a driver can be distracted, we can be distracted spiritually. We lose our focus. Our perspective changes. Our priorities get out of line. Facebook, as good as it is about connecting with people, can be the source of raising your blood pressure and getting you off your pace with God.

We will be gathered to God someday. Keep praying. Keep walking with the Lord. Keep your eyes open and on the horizon. Presidents come and go. And for that matter, countries come and go. Governments come and go. God remains the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What matters is our faith. What matters is our character. What matters is the direction that we are traveling.

Second, we need to assure brethren and comfort them by using the word of God. “These words,” are what would comfort those sad Thessalonians. It wasn’t our words. It wasn’t some store bought devotional book. It was the “these words,” which were the words of God. Sure words. Absolute promises. These words have stood the test of time. These words have been proven true. It is these words that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob trusted and believed.

Want to help a grieving family? Sure make some food but don’t forget the spiritual food, these words. And, when it is our time to grieve and mourn, remember “these words.” There are a lot of things that are said at the funeral home that just aren’t so. People will say things without thinking. They feel compelled to say something. They want their words to make all the difference. Usually that backfires. Often they say things that do not help. If you must say something, use God’s words. “These words,” are what would comfort the heart of the Thessalonians.

Abraham was gathered to his people. Someday, you and I will be gathered to our people. If we are walking with the Lord, that gathering will be among the righteous. It is there that we will see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is there that we will see that God has been good to us. It is there that we will see the glory of the Heavens and realize what a blessed people we are.

We shall see the King someday—what a grand thought that will be! What a grand occasion that will be!

Roger