1. The death of Abraham (1-18)

Abraham lived to be 175, married again, and had other children, but he was careful to protect Isaac's inheritance. God kept his promise to make Ishmael into a nation. His brief genealogy brings Abraham's story to a close, and brings Isaac, the offspring of faith in God's promise, and his family into focus as the successor to God's history.

2. A family that prayed (19-34)

Rebekah was barren for 20 years. But Isaac did not seek a human solution; he prayed - and Rebekah conceived twins. When her pregnancy did not seem to go normally, she prayed. God revealed his will for her two sons. She never forgot this word of God. Her twin sons Jacob and Esau were different and struggled with each other from the womb. Esau's manliness appealed to Isaac, but physical desires held priority in his life. Jacob, for all his weaknesses, knew the value of the birthright and got it by any means. Isaac and Rebekah show us a good example of praying together and for each other in the family.