Palestine vs. Israel OR Muslims vs. ‘The World’
Many people do not understand why Palestinians HATE Jews and many Muslims HATE both the Jews and ‘the West’. They do not understand why, through modern political means, that a ‘reasonable’ peace can not be established. They do not understand why for the past 60 years (since Israel became a nation again) there has been war. What they do not understand is that this is not a ‘Political’ issue, it is a ‘Religious’ issue. They do not understand that this is not a 60 year old issue; it is a 4000 year old issue. The enmity between Palestinians (and by proxy Muslims - I will explain) and Jews dates back to about 2000 years before Christ.
It all started with one man, and his wife doubting God’s promise! Image that. The ongoing violence between Palestinians and Jews, September 11, the ‘War on Terror’ and numerous other atrocities are all because one man and one woman did not trust God (It puts ‘Trusting God’ in a completely new perspective - at least for me).
About now, many are asking where this is going. Some are surmising that I’m going to ‘blame’ Adam and Eve. No, I’m not going to blame Adam and Eve, although through them sin entered the world, and it hasn’t been the same since.
No, in this case, the ‘culprits’ are Abraham and his wife Sarai.
The first part of the story is God’s promise to Abraham (Abram - his name was changed later) recorded in Genesis 13:14 - 17, “And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are— northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.””
This ‘Land’ is the modern day area of Israel and Palestine. This is the ‘first part’ of understanding the ongoing troubles between Palestinians and Jews.
Part two of the story is God promising Abraham an heir. Genesis 15:4, “And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” God promised Abraham a land for his descendants and an heir ‘from his own body’ - offspring.
This is where it starts getting a little complicated. Sarai, Abraham’s wife was ‘barren’; she had given Abraham no heir. Out of earthly wisdom, and lack of trust in God to deliver on his promises, Sarai and Abraham came up with a plan of their own. Genesis 16:2, “So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.” Sarai’s maidservant, Hagar, conceived. One can continue reading the story in Genesis 16, but the next important piece of the puzzle is in verses10 -12, “Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.””
So Abraham’s FIRST son is Ishmael, “a wild man, His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him.” Regardless of what we do (or Abraham did) God keeps His promises…God promised a multitude of descendants, He repeated that promise to Hagar.
That wasn’t God’s plan. God’s plan was to bless Abraham through Sarai. In Genesis17, God makes additional promises to Abraham, including a son by Sarai (named changed to Sarah). God makes a promise to that son (Isaac) in verses 19 - 21, God establishes His promise to Isaac and confirms His promise to Ishmael. Genesis 19 - 21, “Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.”
God keeps His promise to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 21:2 -3, “For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him— Isaac.”
Now we skip forward (in the narrative of Genesis) to Abraham’s sacrifice. There is a very important passage, Genesis 22:2, “Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”” Continuing in verse 12, God speaks to Abraham, “And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Finally, there is the Promise of God because of the sacrifice by Abraham. Genesis 22:16 - 18, “and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
By now, some are wondering what this has to do with anything.
Let us review:
God promised the land of Canaan (Israel and Palestine) to Abraham’s descendants.
God promised Abraham an heir.
Abraham and Sarah ‘compromised’ and Abraham had a son by Hagar, named Ishmael.
God promised Ishmael that he would be a great nation.
God promised Abraham an heir through Sarah.
Abraham had a son named Isaac through Sarah.
God promised Abraham that Isaac would also be a great nation.
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, both promised to be great nations.
Okay, thanks for the history lesson on Abraham, what has that to do with anything?
****************************************
As Paul Harvey would say, “Now, the rest of the story.”
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac.
Remember Genesis 16:12 says about Ishmael, “He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him.” Whether that is also ‘promise’ about his descendants is unknown, but it certainly seems so.
Abraham is the ‘father’ of TWO great ‘nations’. He is the father of the Jews, by Isaac, and Palestinians, by Ishmael.
Additionally:
Abraham is the ‘father’ of TWO 'great' (large) religions. He is the father of Judaism, by Isaac, and Islam, by Ishmael.
Allah, of Islam and God (Jehovah) of Judaism is the same ‘God’. [In 'name' only. The 'Allah' described in the Quaran - is 'supposedly' the 'God' of Abraham, however any resemblence to the 'God' described in the Bible, ends there.]
The Quaran argues (states) that because Ishmael was the ‘First Born’ of Abraham; the land of Canaan belongs to the Palestinians because of the promise in Genesis 13:14 - 17. As the ‘First Born’ Canaan is Ishmael’s inheritance, not Isaac’s.
That is why the Palestinians and Jews are constantly at war over Israel. Both ‘believe’ it is their inheritance.
Further, Islam argues that the book of Genesis is corrupt because of Genesis 22:2 and 12 where the phrase ‘only son’ is used. Islam claims the event recorded in Genesis 22 happened before Isaac was born, and the Jews changed the name from Ishmael to Isaac to ‘steal’ their additional promise. Additionally, it is argued that the Covenant of Genesis 17:5-9 where God promises to be the ‘God to you and your descendants’ applies to the ‘descendants of Ishmael’ for two reasons. First, Ishmael was circumcised with Abraham as a sign of that covenant (vs10 & 23). Second, Isaac had not been born yet, so obviously (according to Islam, this promise was to Ishmael).
Conventional Judaism (and Christianity) argue that Ishmael was given one promise and Isaac another because vss 15 - 19 specify Isaac. Additionally, Genesis 17:21 states SPECIFICALLY, “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” In the previous verse, God made His promise to Ishmael to make him a great nation. Isaac is referred to as the ‘only son’ because he was the ‘Son of the Covenant’ that God would be the God of Isaac and his descendants (this is where the phrase ‘chosen people’ originates). Additionally at the time Isaac was to be sacrificed, Ishmael and his mother Hagar had been banished from Abraham’s household.
At this point, it does not matter what one’s politics are.
What matters is:
The Palestinians and Muslims believe that they are ‘The Chosen People of God (Allah), Land of Canaan is their ‘rightful’ inheritance, and that as the descendents of Ishmael they, “shall possess the gate of their enemies.” They hate and are mortal enemies with the Jews because the Jews are trying to steal their inheritance. They hate and are mortal enemies with any people or nation that supports the Jews and Israel.
The Jews (and Christians*) believe that the Jews are the ‘Chosen People of God’, the Land of Canaan is their rightful inheritance, and the Palestinians are trying to steal their ‘rightful’ inheritance.
This is a Holy War to claim the inheritance promised by God. No lasting ‘political’ solution will be found until the times prophesied in the Bible. First, peace will be established during the ‘Tribulation’ by FORCE (and only last three to seven years). Second, peace will be established when Christ returns to earth to claim His earthly kingdom.
*Christians believe the Jews are the ‘Chosen People’ because Jesus was a Jew, and promised as His adopted children, they (we) will share in the inheritance of the Jews.
It all started with one man, and his wife doubting God’s promise! Image that. The ongoing violence between Palestinians and Jews, September 11, the ‘War on Terror’ and numerous other atrocities are all because one man and one woman did not trust God (It puts ‘Trusting God’ in a completely new perspective - at least for me).
About now, many are asking where this is going. Some are surmising that I’m going to ‘blame’ Adam and Eve. No, I’m not going to blame Adam and Eve, although through them sin entered the world, and it hasn’t been the same since.
No, in this case, the ‘culprits’ are Abraham and his wife Sarai.
The first part of the story is God’s promise to Abraham (Abram - his name was changed later) recorded in Genesis 13:14 - 17, “And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are— northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.””
This ‘Land’ is the modern day area of Israel and Palestine. This is the ‘first part’ of understanding the ongoing troubles between Palestinians and Jews.
Part two of the story is God promising Abraham an heir. Genesis 15:4, “And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” God promised Abraham a land for his descendants and an heir ‘from his own body’ - offspring.
This is where it starts getting a little complicated. Sarai, Abraham’s wife was ‘barren’; she had given Abraham no heir. Out of earthly wisdom, and lack of trust in God to deliver on his promises, Sarai and Abraham came up with a plan of their own. Genesis 16:2, “So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.” Sarai’s maidservant, Hagar, conceived. One can continue reading the story in Genesis 16, but the next important piece of the puzzle is in verses10 -12, “Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.””
So Abraham’s FIRST son is Ishmael, “a wild man, His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him.” Regardless of what we do (or Abraham did) God keeps His promises…God promised a multitude of descendants, He repeated that promise to Hagar.
That wasn’t God’s plan. God’s plan was to bless Abraham through Sarai. In Genesis17, God makes additional promises to Abraham, including a son by Sarai (named changed to Sarah). God makes a promise to that son (Isaac) in verses 19 - 21, God establishes His promise to Isaac and confirms His promise to Ishmael. Genesis 19 - 21, “Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.”
God keeps His promise to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 21:2 -3, “For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him— Isaac.”
Now we skip forward (in the narrative of Genesis) to Abraham’s sacrifice. There is a very important passage, Genesis 22:2, “Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”” Continuing in verse 12, God speaks to Abraham, “And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Finally, there is the Promise of God because of the sacrifice by Abraham. Genesis 22:16 - 18, “and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
By now, some are wondering what this has to do with anything.
Let us review:
God promised the land of Canaan (Israel and Palestine) to Abraham’s descendants.
God promised Abraham an heir.
Abraham and Sarah ‘compromised’ and Abraham had a son by Hagar, named Ishmael.
God promised Ishmael that he would be a great nation.
God promised Abraham an heir through Sarah.
Abraham had a son named Isaac through Sarah.
God promised Abraham that Isaac would also be a great nation.
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, both promised to be great nations.
Okay, thanks for the history lesson on Abraham, what has that to do with anything?
****************************************
As Paul Harvey would say, “Now, the rest of the story.”
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac.
Remember Genesis 16:12 says about Ishmael, “He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him.” Whether that is also ‘promise’ about his descendants is unknown, but it certainly seems so.
Abraham is the ‘father’ of TWO great ‘nations’. He is the father of the Jews, by Isaac, and Palestinians, by Ishmael.
Additionally:
Abraham is the ‘father’ of TWO 'great' (large) religions. He is the father of Judaism, by Isaac, and Islam, by Ishmael.
Allah, of Islam and God (Jehovah) of Judaism is the same ‘God’. [In 'name' only. The 'Allah' described in the Quaran - is 'supposedly' the 'God' of Abraham, however any resemblence to the 'God' described in the Bible, ends there.]
The Quaran argues (states) that because Ishmael was the ‘First Born’ of Abraham; the land of Canaan belongs to the Palestinians because of the promise in Genesis 13:14 - 17. As the ‘First Born’ Canaan is Ishmael’s inheritance, not Isaac’s.
That is why the Palestinians and Jews are constantly at war over Israel. Both ‘believe’ it is their inheritance.
Further, Islam argues that the book of Genesis is corrupt because of Genesis 22:2 and 12 where the phrase ‘only son’ is used. Islam claims the event recorded in Genesis 22 happened before Isaac was born, and the Jews changed the name from Ishmael to Isaac to ‘steal’ their additional promise. Additionally, it is argued that the Covenant of Genesis 17:5-9 where God promises to be the ‘God to you and your descendants’ applies to the ‘descendants of Ishmael’ for two reasons. First, Ishmael was circumcised with Abraham as a sign of that covenant (vs10 & 23). Second, Isaac had not been born yet, so obviously (according to Islam, this promise was to Ishmael).
Conventional Judaism (and Christianity) argue that Ishmael was given one promise and Isaac another because vss 15 - 19 specify Isaac. Additionally, Genesis 17:21 states SPECIFICALLY, “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” In the previous verse, God made His promise to Ishmael to make him a great nation. Isaac is referred to as the ‘only son’ because he was the ‘Son of the Covenant’ that God would be the God of Isaac and his descendants (this is where the phrase ‘chosen people’ originates). Additionally at the time Isaac was to be sacrificed, Ishmael and his mother Hagar had been banished from Abraham’s household.
At this point, it does not matter what one’s politics are.
What matters is:
The Palestinians and Muslims believe that they are ‘The Chosen People of God (Allah), Land of Canaan is their ‘rightful’ inheritance, and that as the descendents of Ishmael they, “shall possess the gate of their enemies.” They hate and are mortal enemies with the Jews because the Jews are trying to steal their inheritance. They hate and are mortal enemies with any people or nation that supports the Jews and Israel.
The Jews (and Christians*) believe that the Jews are the ‘Chosen People of God’, the Land of Canaan is their rightful inheritance, and the Palestinians are trying to steal their ‘rightful’ inheritance.
This is a Holy War to claim the inheritance promised by God. No lasting ‘political’ solution will be found until the times prophesied in the Bible. First, peace will be established during the ‘Tribulation’ by FORCE (and only last three to seven years). Second, peace will be established when Christ returns to earth to claim His earthly kingdom.
*Christians believe the Jews are the ‘Chosen People’ because Jesus was a Jew, and promised as His adopted children, they (we) will share in the inheritance of the Jews.
posted by Unchained Slave at 1:03 PM
1 Comments:
Thank you for your thoughts. I look forward to following your interesting blog. I have also been writing about this holy war. Are you interested in topics about the Apocalypse, End times, the End of the world , Eschatology , Last days , the Horsemen of the apocalypse , The beast , Prophesy , Prophesies , Revelation , 666 , Bible Prophesy , Prophets , Canaan , Canaan's land , Land of Canaan , or the Christian future? If so you may enjoy reading " Land of Canaan." This is a free online book. The Link is http://landofcanaan.info/book.php
Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Paul M. Kingery, PhD, MPH
Post a Comment
<< Home