5 Minutes for Exiled Christians: The Troubled Relationship Between Christians and Muslims Part 1
Part 1: Half Brothers & Whole Rivals (Because I know there is more on the subject)
Islam is a vibrant and vicious force on the global scene and given its relation to international politics, the Christian voter needs to develop a keen understanding of Islam. With knowledge of Islamic history in the context of its relationship to the West, Christians in Babylon can formulate a collective response.
These three Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all considered Abraham who is the father of these Abrahamic religions. Abraham is first of the recorded patriarchs; tradition holds his burial site to be at the Cave of Macpela, tomb of the Patriarchs; in its commemoration lies a mosque. No one is now able to enter the cave.
Naturally, it remains unsurprising that the Israeli and Islamic faiths are in serious conflict over the holy land today; the status quo has largley remained unchanged in that respect. Perhaps which power claimed lordship of Mount Moriah, the holy footstool of God, has varied, but the sons of Abraham have always held the site their own. Today is the ironically yet accurately named Dome of the Rock. A Mosque in whose presence Jews and Christians cannot pray. A Dome which covers the rock of sacrifice. A holy stone table where the son of Abraham was laid for sacrifice.
Now there is disagreement over which son was laid upon the altar. Jews, Christians, and Muslims contend which son is the legitimate heir of Abraham and truly promised son from God. This argument is rooted in tangible events viewed by the Oaks of Mamre whose ancient rooted scars still embed the bedrock of earth. These arguments are appropriate in the light that they are sons contending for legitimacy. Sons contending for their birthright. Not the birthright bought by Jacob rather, the birthright given only to heirs of Abraham. The essential question is who is the promised son of Abraham? For all sides agree about Abraham’s inheritance:
The violence in the middle east is attributed to the strife of Abraham’s offspring. There is no other suitable explanation. Israel’s natural resources are not the justification of Palestinian hate crimes of Hamas’ bombings, killings, and unspeakable atrocities. These acts of seemingly senseless violence incited by Tehran (Iran) appear to the agnostic to be without motive. The missiles poised on Israel’s northern borders are not designed to extract money. The forces of Islam are diametrically opposed to the establishment of an Israeli nation. Even within Israel (who is 20% Muslim) has its own strife. Jerusalem, the holy city is divided into four quarters three of which by religious boundaries. But there is a motive between these two conflicting sides. It is tied to the Holy land, but it is not just the Holy land itself. It is a battle of tigers in a ring; not just who has the right to stay, but who has the right to live. A two state solution is insanity. One wants the other dead; the extinction of one is the desire of the other. Because there is only one promised son of Abraham. However, Abraham has other sons.
According to Genesis 25, Abraham has eight sons. Ishmael, Isaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Each of these sons recieves tangible benefits from Abraham’s blessings.
All three religions agree that the Lord God called Abraham out of the polytheistic paganism in Ur of the Chaldeans, that he dwelt in the land of his brother Haran. His father Terah, according to tradition died in Haran; Abraham progressed.
According to the Talmud, Abraham spoke before Nimrod renouncing the gods of polytheism. Here is the exerpt from the Midrash,
He (Terah) took him (Abraham) and gave him over to Nimrod. (Nimrod) said to him: Let us worship the fire! (Abraham) said to him: Should we not then worship water, which extinguishes fire! (Nimrod) said to him: Then, let us worship the water! (Abraham) said to him: Should we not then worship the clouds, which carry the water? (Nimrod) said to him: Then, let us worship the cloud! (Abraham) said to him: If so, Should we not then worship the wind, which scatters the clouds? (Nimrod) said to him: Then, let us worship the wind! (Abraham) said to him: Should we not then worship the human, who withstands the wind? (Nimrod) said to him: You are merely piling words; we should bow to none other than the fire. I shall therefore cast you in it, and let your God to whom you bow come and save you from it!
Yet Abraham, in the same manner as Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego in Bablyon did not bow. As his predestined inheritance for the Lord had selected Abraham for his chosen nation, the Lord spoke.
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
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“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”[b]
The land of promise is unquestionably Israel. Not the political borders of the nation of Israel today, but the land of Cannan viewed by Abraham as promised by God in ancient times. The land in which the sons of Cannan dwelt and the land where Abraham would be. Abraham’s mighty inheritance would create a nation; those who oppose Abraham’s kin would inevitably be driven out. These blessings are agreed upon by Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The Quaran classifies Abraham as a hanif (one who confesses uncorrupted monotheism). The Quaran also states that God took Abraham as an intimate friend. Moreover, it confirms (although the wording is different) that his son was to be sacrificed.
Abraham in spite of his faults continued to receive compounded blessings from God at the words of Melchizedek.
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
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And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And the Lord spoke to Abraham in a vision.
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,[a]
your very great reward.[b]”
If Abraham has the Lord as his shield, then so shall his son.
The blessing of Abraham is the envy of all peoples. Gentiles historically had only one option which was to eliminate these blessed people and extinguish their inheritance from the earth. Such was the tactic of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Bablyonians, Romas, Germans, and others. Historically, Israel has changed political hands more frequently than any other region of the world. Not just because it was the land of milk and honey, but because Zion is the holy footstool of god. In spite of the oppressions, Light overcame the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it. Even as the Gentiles trampled the holy sites underfoot, they as nations (individuals although were cursed) were still blessed by the Children of Abraham. For the Lord had spoken that All nations would be blessed by Abraham’s offspring and his name would be a blessing to all people for the remainder of time. Whoever curses Abraham and his sons would be cursed and whoever would bless Abraham would gain life everlasting. So has this truth held. But who is the promised son?
The quaran states, “Then when the boy reached the age to work with him, Abraham said, “O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I ˹must˺ sacrifice you. So tell me what you think.” He replied, “O my dear father! Do as you are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.”
Yet here is where the stories diverge.
According to Islam the son is Ishmael but Jews and Christians believe the son to be Isaac. Which son is the heir of Abraham.
To the Jewish and Christian reader, Ishamel is blessed. Therefore, the children of the Mohammadean faith are blessed with the blessing of Ishamel.
9 Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
11 The angel of the Lord also said to her:
“You are now pregnant
and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,[a]
for the Lord has heard of your misery.
12
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward[b] all his brothers.”
13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[c] the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi[d]; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.
Moreover, in Genesis 17, the Bible states, “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.”
The Muslims therefore have blessing from God to be numerous and a great nation.
Therefore, since Muslims are descended of Ishmael according to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim tradition, This text may be at least an agreed perception of Muslims by Jews and Christians. The Lord has blessed the Muslim people that they be too numerous to count and that he will live in hostility against his brothers. Therefore, Christians and Jews are legitimately fearful of this enemy. For Abraham’s love for Ishmael has created the foe of his heir.
Islam is a religion with more power and influence than other false religions and heresies because it has more truth within it than all others save Judaism. Additionally, Islam has doctrinal influences from Sabellian heresy which was popular around the area when Muhammad the prophet entered the scene.
As ordained before time began, he was given great military might and the land of North Africa, parts of Spain, Turkey, and the entirety of ancient Persia. Over time and now today, it spread to India and spreading to Indonesia and beyond. The population of Islam in Europe is expanding at astonishing rates with 20% of the city of Paris being Muslim. Cities in London such as Nottingham and Detrioit in the United States are also hosting a rapidly expanding population. They are enjoying their promised blessing from the Lord.
Yet God’s mercy to Abraham on behalf of his love for his son has direct connections to the political violence and strife of today. Israelis claim to be descended of the only true son of Abraham, Isaac, and Muslims cannot accept coexistence in the Levant.
Christians claim that Christ Jesus, the son of Isaac, is the sacrificial lamb prophesied by Abraham. Close readers take note: Abraham said to Isaac “The Lord would provide a lamb for sacrifice.” In the bushes was found a ram. Christians say that Jesus is the lamb for sacrifice and the promised son of Abraham through whom all nations of the earth would be blessed. Christians say that Jesus would bring the light of blessing to the Gentiles. His line could not be corrupted which is why Sarah, whenever she dwelt in another king’s house brought affliction. Now you have the question. Who is the rightful heir of Abraham? Jews say Isaac. Christians say Isaac who was the father of Christ, and Muslims say Ishmael.