Gathered Unto His People

"Then Abraham expired, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people." (Genesis 25: 8)

"And Isaac expired, and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him." (Genesis 35:29)

"And when Jacob finished commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and expired, and was gathered unto his people." (Genesis 49: 33)

"Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah." (Numbers 20: 24)

"And (Moses) die in the mount where you go up, and be gathered to your people; as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people." (Deuteronomy: 32: 50)

The words "and was gathered to his people" is a striking phrase over which the mind muses and lingers in contemplation. What does that mean? It certainly does not refer to the body of Abraham being united in a common burial place, in the family cemetery. The context here, and elsewhere where the same words are used, show that this cannot be what is meant.

The words are meant to cheer the soul over the death of the body. But, there is no cheering thought in being "gathered" with other dead bodies in a family grave! There is no connotation of joyful conscious reunion of family in such a view of the words. The words make us think of "going home," a familiar saying of the saints in regard to their "departures" from the body.

You would think that death would cut one off from his people, not unite him to his people. Irony.

This is one of the most cheering thoughts in all the bible. I think of it often. Going home to be with my people, with Christians, with believers of all ages, with all who have been "born" into the family of God. All these have a kindred spirit and are united in their faith in the word of God.

Just who are your people? The biological members of your earthly family or clan? No. If you are a believer, then you are a member of the family of God. If you are an unbeliever, you are a member of the fallen family of man, a "child of the devil." (See John 8: 44-45)

Paul wrote of "the whole family (of God) in heaven and earth" (Eph. 3: 15). Oh what joy to be a member of that family! What a joy to face death knowing that it is a time of "departure," a time for the Believer to go home and be reunited with his spiritual kin!

Ishmael's Family

"And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty seven years; and he expired and died; and was gathered to his people." (Genesis 25: 17)

Was Ishmael a spiritual man? Those who think not see the words "gathered to his people" as denoting not only the reunion and gathering of godly people, but also of the gathering of ungodly people. So Dr. Gill says:

"and he gave up the ghost and died, and was gathered unto his people; some of the same expressions being used of him as of his father, Genesis 25:8, have led some to conclude that he was a penitent and died a good man, and was gathered to the same people; but these phrases are used both of good and bad men." (Commentary)

What family are you part of? The family of God or the family of the devil?

When the beggar Lazarus died, it is said that he "was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom..." (Luke 16: 22 kjv) In other words, he was gathered unto his people.

When I worked as a Phlebotomist in the hospital many years ago, I remember one old woman who, when I came into her room, and spoke to her about Jesus and salvation, I remember her exclaiming how she was going home to be with Jesus! She was so excited about it. Let us all go through the valley of the shadow of death with such realization!

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psa. 90: 10 kjv)

Lazarus the beggar flew away with the angels and is now comforted in glory with his people, with his family, with the saints of all the ages. Glorious thought!