The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites [mark these and note that they are placed at the head of the list too]*; Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre: (Psalm 83:1-8, A.S.V.) Nothing less than the complete extinction and annihilation of God’s people Israel have been the goal and aim of the Ishmaelites down the course of their national history. During the Middle Ages the sons of Ishmael (the Arabs) subjugated large por tions of Europe and the countries to the east, thus siding with the Romish Church to make those ages the Dark Ages of history. And today these sons of Ishmael are among the greatest adversaries o f the Gospel of our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And what of Ishmael in the twentieth cen tury, since we would bring the story down to our own day? We have all read o f the conflict carried on and the bloodshed in the 1929 riots, in the late years of the last decade, and seemingly the climax is nearing with the present day riots and the machi nations of the Arab League to drive out the sons of Isaac from the land. What are the events of our own day in Palestine if not a living prolongation of that struggle and conflict which went on in the home (in Palestine too) of Abraham in the century long ago? And is this the conclusion of the matter? Verily, it is not! Just as Sarah of old commanded, “ Cast out this handmaid and her son: for the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac” (Genesis 21:10), so now the Spir it of God through Paul says, “ Cast out the hand maid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman” (Gal. 4:30). God will in His own good time cast out the sons of Ishmael, despite all their devisings and intrigues, and will settle the sons o f Isaac, in spite of their loud cries for help to the helpless nations of the earth instead of turning now to the Lord God who gave them the land forever, in the land of promise in perpetuity. OF WHAT GOOD IS THE LAND? But at this point I would ask a pertinent ques tion of you, dear reader. Of what profit or avail is the land to Israel, the sons of Isaac, as long as they are lost, dead in trespasses and sins, not trust ing in the Messiah and God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? It is o f no use to them as far as spiritual things are concerned. They must become sons of Isaac by faith as well as by birth. God has given us the privilege and opportunity of getting the Gospel to them. What will we do about it? EE Reprinted from Israel in The Spotlight, by Charles L. Feinberg, Th.D Ph.D. Used by permission. Assyria also is joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.
Holy Spirit's own word. And the more we contem plate the details o f the Biblical narrative in the Genesis chapters, the better we shall comprehend the full meaning of the persecution indicated. Just think back on the situation in the home of Abra ham with the elder son displaced from the heirship. In the Orient this is no small matter. The firstborn was to have a double portion of the inheritance. In this instance it belongs not to Ishmael but Isaac. Would the natural man find any delight in such an arrangement which set aside his fleshly claims? Then pause for a moment to consider the conten tion in the home which must have gone on between Hagar and Sarah. It appears that the climax to all this conflict and disharmony was reached at the weaning of Isaac. See Genesis 21:8 if. In the East this stage in the life of a child is reached when he is between three and five years of age. It is a time of particular joy because the early hardships and dangers of infant life have been successfully passed through. For that reason Abraham made a joyous feast for his heir according to the promise. It was more than Ishmael could down, and he made a mockery of the whole affair. The patience of Sarah was exhausted and she demanded the expulsion o f the handmaid and her son. Why is so much be ing made of a simple unhappy home scene? Be cause the effects o f it were never dissipated. If you will read the book of Nehemiah, the account o f the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem according to the will and purpose of God, you will find a list of the enemies of the work of God among His peo ple in chapter 4 and verses 7 and following. Among the antagonists of God’s work are the Arabians, sons o f Ishmael. Centuries later one of the most solemn scenes in all human history was transacted. The blessed Son of God, the incarnate Second Per son of the Trinity, was on trial for His life before none other than Herod the Great. And who was Herod the Great as to parentage? Mark this: his mother was a Nabataean (o f Ishmael) and his father was of Idumaean (Esau) extraction. The Son of Isaac is being judged by the son o f Ismael. What is the attitude of Ishmael’s seed toward that of Isaac’s seed through the years ? The Psalm ist gives us the whole picture thus: O God, keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They take crafty counsel against thy people, And consult together against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remem brance. For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant:
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JULY, 1968
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