Descendants of Ishmael

Here we have both the curse and the blessing that God spoke over Ishmael, the older son of Abraham. Isaac was the chosen lineage to fulfill the prophecy, but God did not forsake Ishmael. He promised to make him the father of a nation as well, and Ishmael became the father of the Arabs. Because of this, the origins of the current animosity between Arab nations and Israel can be traced back to this division between the two sons of Abraham.

The Quran also refers to this Biblical story, focusing more on Ishmael than Isaac. He is seen as one of the esteemed prophets in Islam. Fast forward to today, and we see Islam as the dominant religion in most of the Middle East. It is populated primarily by Arabs of different tribes who trace their blood lineage to Ishmael. Muslims worldwide trace their “spiritual” heritage back to him as well.

We see evidence of his descendants living under the curse when warring Islamic factions fight over religious differences and land disputes. Graciously, curses can be broken in Christ, and God brings us into His family so that no one is called an orphan.

Prayer

God, I pray for Muslims to realize that some of the hurts they carry are not their own. We know they don’t have to continue to struggle under the curse and that freedom can be found in You. Break chains today, Lord! Bring many Muslims into a saving knowledge of Christ. Use the very peoples who have persecuted Israelites as the ones who provoke them to jealousy unto seeing the completion of the Kingdom.