All The Children Of Abraham

In today’s world, the peoples who follow Islam are all too often vilified as followers of a violent ritualistic faith. Yet, according to Islam, they're the children of Abraham.

Hmmm, aren't the Jews and the Christians considered the children of Abraham? What's going on here? How is it that the three great faiths could all be children of Abraham? And why are we all fighting in the Middle East?

I can only speak as a Christian, and I think we should consider: If a person believes that the Bible is the literal Word, then how to understand the current crisis between Jews, Christians and Muslims? Bluntly, a true Believer would go back to the Bible.

So let's go back to the beginnings of the Great Faiths.

OK, not all the way back, we'll start with God's covenant with Abraham. I've paraphrased and condensed the verses, you can go back to your Bible to read the full text. Don't take my word for this, go back and read it for yourself!

In the Old Testament, God made a Covenant with Abraham, saying that his seed would be numbered as the stars in the heavens. Genesis 14:5

Now, Abraham was old at this point, he and his wife Sarah had no children. If you read Genesis carefully, they weren't always the nicest people, but they believed in God. That was their strength, they were Believers.

So when God said Abraham would have descendants, they Believed in God's Word. Over time, however, Sarah decided that if she couldn't provide an heir, Abraham WOULD have an heir.As was the custom of that era, Sarah gave her handmaid, Hagar, to Abraham as a second wife, hoping for an heir. Hagar was also a follower of God, and in the midst of the turmoil that was caused between Abraham, Sarah, and herself, an angel of God spoke to her, ordering her to submit to Sarah. By her submission, God forged a covenant with Hagar, promising her that her seed would also be too many to count. Genesis 16:9-10

Then, when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90, God again spoke to Abraham, promising them a son. God told Abraham that his first son, Ishmael would have many children, a great nation. Yet Abraham’s heir would be Sarah’s son, Isaac. Genesis 17:16, 20-21

Thus, despite her old age, Sarah had a son, Isaac. As was the custom, the son of the first wife is the heir, even if the other wife's child was the oldest. And unfortunately, human nature wins out over compassion. Sarah was jealous of Hagar and Ishmael. In today's words, she felt that they "didn't know their place".After Isaac was born, Sarah demanded that Abraham put Hagar and Ishmael out. God reassured him that both sons would lead great nations, so Abraham did as his wife demanded. Genesis 21:10-13

DANG, Abraham put his own child out into the wilderness because his wife demanded it? That is some messed up stuff, now isn't it? Even if God reassured me about my child's destiny, I don't know that I have enough Faith to do such a thing. But then again, I'm a mom, not an old man with a big problem.

Hagar and Ishmael were cast out into the wilderness. Hagar was in despair, believing that they would die. Yet God heard her cries and His angel again reassured her that Ishmael would father a great nation. She opened her eyes and saw a well of water. They were saved. Genesis 21:14-21
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Fast forward to the present:

Many Christians now accept that the Jewish peoples still have a covenant with God. Jesus said himself that he didn't come to set aside the law.

Now, if Isaac’s descendants are the Jewish people, then who are the followers of Islam? We already know that genetically, the Jews and the Arabs of the middle east are related peoples.
If we believe that the Arabic peoples are also descended of Abraham, then are they actually the descendants of the elder brother, Ishmael?

More than that, if the Arabic peoples are the descendants of Ishmael, then they are the brothers and sisters of the Jews (and Christians). According to Bible, Hagar and Ishmael also have a covenant with God, separate from Isaac's Promise.

Therefore, since all three great faiths of the world, according to their own beliefs, are descended from Abraham, the conflict today is far worse than the secular world understands.

From the ancient days, right to the present, the descendants of Abraham are still fighting over their place in God's Kingdom.

There is NOTHING worse than a family fight -- especially a family fight over an inheritance.

It's no wonder that the Middle East is such a mess. None of us can fully comprehend the good and the evil that happen when men believe that they are the single heir of God. God didn't tell Abraham, Sarah or Hagar any such thing, God said that both of Abraham's sons would father great nations.

Ouch.

Yes, one is "the heir" but the other also has a Promise. Ouch again.

Honestly, Sarah shouldn't have taken matters into her own hands, she should have left it up to God. That's what happens when we decide to push things along, instead of waiting on God's Time. But at this point, those thoughts are way too late. We can't change the past, we can only look to the future.

What future do we have if we continue to battle each other?

God has a covenant with each of the great religions. Yet we deny that. We deny our own Brothers and Sisters in Faith.

There is evil out there in the world that twists everything and everyone, until it seems that what's right is wrong and what's wrong is right. So, we actually assist the evil one.

When will we learn Lord? When will we learn the lessons You try to teach us? How long must Abraham's children pay for the sins of the father?

How many more years will we fight over God?

Until we stop fighting each other and begin to grow and accept that all of God's children, all of Abraham's children, have a place in the Kingdom, the world will remain in conflict. The Middle East will remain divided, torn by wars, as it has been through history.

How much longer must we suffer?

Until we stop letting the extremists reign.
Until we listen to the Father.
Until we follow His Word.
Until we have a family reunion.

Then we will find Peace.

Links:
Science Daily - http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/05/000509003653.htm
The Scribe - http://www.dangoor.com/73page25.html
BeliefNet - http://www.beliefnet.com/story/136/story_13658_1.html

Note: I have more than one blog, and sometimes I repeat a post because the topic overlaps my blogs' focus. This topic is not just about religious beliefs, but political, so it appears twice.

A Star In The Heavens

We're coming into the Holiday Season now. Thanksgiving is "over", Black Friday has passed, and how we're coming to the Reason for the Season.

Over the last couple of weeks, every morning that it's not cloudy or foggy, I see a huge star in the sky. A star in the heavens.

Now, I know it's not really a star, it's a comet that has become huge enough to see with the naked eye. I don't care what science calls it, it's a beautiful sight.

As I walk the Chihuahua, I look at that star and contemplate a night about 2000 years ago, when another huge star lit up the sky. I'm sure, like this comet, that star blazed suddenly one night and stayed bright until the Kings arrived, bringing gifts to the Messiah.

Now honestly, Jesus most likely wasn't born on December 25, 00AD. The exact date is really not all that important. The early Church chose a convenient date that fits into many mythologies and didn't interfere with the harvest. It's all good as far as I'm concerned. It's good to have a day in the midst of winter to celebrate the coming of the Messiah. During the gloomiest days of the year, I look forward to a bright shining day filled with love.

But as I look at that star every morning, I wonder, what would Jesus think of us today? Would He be happy with our tradition of giving during this Season? Or would He throw over the tables in the malls and tell us that we're corrupting His message of Love and Sacrifice? Would He be happy to see us in the churches, the synagogues, the mosques, each celebrating the Lord God Almighty according to our own beliefs? Or would He stand outside and tell us that we're hypocrites, showing up for our holy days like we're Believers, and living in sin the rest of the year?

What would Jesus do?

And I ask myself, am I doing enough? I'm struggling along, somehow juggling and managing to pay most of my bills. How can I give more? What can I do to Bless others less fortunate than myself?

Jesus would "take no prisoners".

He'd tell me flat out that I'm supposed to give without considering my own selfish materialism. I'm supposed to love my Brothers and Sisters, no matter how badly they look or smell or act. I'm supposed to help support the widows and orphans and other single moms. I'm supposed to forgive those who've done me wrong. I'm supposed to share my Blessings, even when it hurts. In fact, especially when it hurts.

Jesus has never been one to hold back when someone needed to be told what to do. The New Testament laid it out for us in no uncertain terms. The Holy Spirit whispers to our hearts, telling us to give, to forgive, to Bless and be Blessed. All we have to do is listen.

All too often, we forget the Reason for the Season ended in THE ultimate Sacrifice. We celebrate His Birth, but we don't look forward to the ending until Resurrection Day arrives in the Spring.

His Sacrifice was for us all.

My life may just a blink of a mighty Eye, but Jesus loves me anyway. He came, He lived, He taught, He sacrificed Himself, and then He rose from death to show us the Way.

The least I can do is to honor not just His birth at Christmas, but also His Life and Sacrifice. He did it for me. He did it for you. He did it for us all.

He is that Star in the Heavens, shining to remind us all that time is short, there is work to be done. It's our job to get out there and get busy. Even if it hurts.

A Star in the Heavens shines tonight.

I'm sure science will have an explanation when it fades. That's all good too. I don't really need a scientist to tell me why.

I know that it shines for me and for you, a reminder of a night about 2000 years ago, when He came to live, He came to die for us all...