This woman’s name isn’t well-known as the wife of Abraham. Generally, people will say his wife was Sarah, and he had a concubine, Hagar. But Keturah is forgotten, probably because we don’t have any story about her life.
“Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah. 5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.” (Genesis 25 v 1-5)
After Sarah’s death, Abraham and Keturah came together. Interestingly, here it says she was his wife, but in 1 Chronicles 1:32 it records her as his concubine. There’s no confusion, really, because the concubine was seen as a wife, but one of a lower legal status, and the resulting children also had fewer inheritance rights. So in verse 6, the gifts given as leaving presents to his sons from the concubines were those of Hagar and Keturah.
They were not heirs to the covenant promise of God through Sarah and Isaac. This is the main point of these verses. The primary inheritance, the promised blood-line would run through Isaac. That was always the case, and Abraham protected it.
Abraham didn’t dismiss this part of his family; he sent them, he provided for them, and he directed them. His kindness also protected the other side of the family, Isaac’s. That was the reason. Keeping distinctions in your life so that your primary purpose is protected is wisdom. Let me illustrate this.
1. All your working life, you have had more than one job. Many of us do. You have had a paid role and at least one other voluntary role. At various seasons, like the present one, this has amounted to several voluntary roles. But you have had to work hard at protecting the primary role, which is the one others pay you for. Of course, if you understand what it is to ‘tent-make’, then your primary role could be the voluntary one, and the paid role is supporting that.
2. The focal point of your life is Jesus. He is the start, the race and the finishing line. You have other things in your life that are pleasurable and important. There’s nothing wrong with the social circles, the leisure pursuits and the investments of your time and energy. But these do not compare to the importance of your life as a disciple and as a member of His church. So you don’t let these attractions become distractions from the primary purpose of serving Jesus.
You are keeping distinctions in your life. Keep clarity around the true purpose of your life. You will then be able to protect it and separate it so that it can grow into fulfilment. Treat your commitments differently, and then you will find contentment with your true purpose for then you will be faithful to it.
Missions Paul 