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Ishmael was born of Abraham's seed but of an Egyptian (Arab) servant to Sarah. So, although the Arabs are, I guess, PART Jewish, they are also part Arab.
Funny thing is.... God told Abraham that Ismael WOULD be blessed, yet here we/they are fighting each other!
Of course they are, they have since Isaac was born.Originally Posted by golfhobo
Slim: Again.... I get it all confused at times.... been YEARS since I set foot in a church let alone Sunday School! But Jacob and Esau is a different story.It is
Ishmael was born of Abraham's seed but of an Egyptian (Arab) servant to Sarah. So, although the Arabs are, I guess, PART Jewish, they are also part Arab.
Funny thing is.... God told Abraham that Ismael WOULD be blessed, yet here we/they are fighting each other!
AS FOR SARAI THY WIFE, THOU SHALT NOT CALL HER NAME SARAI, BUT SARAH SHALL HER NAME BE. AND I WILL BLESS HER, AND GIVE THEE A SON ALSO OF HER...AND SHE SHALL BE A MOTHER OF NATIONS; KINGS OF PEOPLE SHALL BE OF HER. THEN ABRAHAM FELL UPON HIS FACE, AND LAUGHED, AND SAID IN HIS HEART, SHALL A CHILD BE BORN UNTO HIM THAT IS AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD? AND SHALL SARAH, THAT IS NINETY YEARS OLD, BEAR? AND GOD SAID, SARAH THY WIFE SHALL BEAR THEE A SON INDEED; AND THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME ISAAC: AND I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH HIM FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, AND WITH HIS SEED AFTER HIM. AND AS FOR ISHMAEL, I HAVE HEARD THEE: BEHOLD, I HAVE BLESSED HIM, AND WILL MAKE HIM FRUITFUL, AND WILL MULTIPLY HIM EXCEEDINGLY; TWELVE PRINCES SHALL HE BEGAT, AND I WILL MAKE HIM A GREAT NATION. BUT MY COVENANT WILL I ESTABLISH WITH ISAAC-Gen 17:15-17,19-21.
http://www.amazingbible.org/Document...and_Ismael.htm
It's more than sibling rivalry, it's about who is the "rightful heir" to Abraham and the land that was promised to him. Both sides beleive that they are right, so much so that they will not stop until the other is destroyed. Ishmael (Ismael) was blessed BUT God's Covenant was with Isaac. Ishmael was born of the flesh, Isaac was born of Spirit. They will always be at odds.
From a womans viewpoint (paraphrased of course)...
Sarah wanted to help Abraham fulfill God's promise about his heirs, so since she couldn't conceive she gave him her maid. When Hagar conceived and gave Abraham a son she despised Sarah. Then God decides to let Sarah have a child. Hagar and Ishmael are pi$$ed off to say the least. Even though Ishmael is the first born son, he is not legitimate, and Ishmael mocks Isaac. Sarah begs Abraham to send them away, God agrees with Sarah and Hagar and Ishmael are sent away. God promised Abraham that He would bless Ishmael and that he would become a great nation, but His convenant is with Isaac, the legitimate heir
IMHO Sarah screwed up! Even though her heart was in the right place in trying to help her husband, she shot herself in the foot. Hagar thought that when she gave Abraham a son, everything that was Sarah's should be hers, including Abraham and the Promises God had made him. But she was wrong. But God allowed it to happen so I have to believe that there is a reason that this feud has been allowed to go on for thousands of years.
Reb