Why is there war in the Mideast?
Some say it’s because of the land; some say it’s religious.
Just like anything else, the important question is always,
“What does God say?”
As we have been studying the Book of Genesis, we have been learning the origins of many things in our lives today. Why is there constant strain in the Mideast? It is in the Mideast where God made a covenant with Abraham, who was given the title “father of many nations”!
Please open your Bibles to Genesis 12, v1-7....
God promised a great nation through Abraham, when he was 75 years old.
But for 10 years, Abraham and Sarah couldn’t have a baby. So, Sarah and Abraham decided to take action by having a baby through an Egyptian servant. We read in Genesis 16, Abraham had his first son Ishmael through Hagar, when he was 85 years old.
Turn to Genesis 16:10-12.....
God promised to Ishmael many descendants, but there would be hostility.
Turn to Genesis 17:17-21....
God promised a son to Abraham through Sarah.
Today, we will read the story of the birth of Isaac and the start of the conflict between nations.
Please turn to Chapter 21 of Genesis, v1-34.....
God was gracious to Sarah by doing what He promised her! 2 things we can note here about God from v1;
#1 - God is gracious; meaning God gives to people what they don’t deserve. Some may say God is unfair! He gives blessings to those undeserving. God may be unfair but, if God isn’t gracious, should any person be alive when they’re all sinners? If God isn’t gracious, can anyone really go back to God? It may seem unfair; but thank God for his graciousness!
God was gracious to Sarah and #2 - God keeps His promises!
Now, Isaac was born to Abraham through Sarah and it was a time for celebrating what God was doing! But what happened when Isaac was about 2 years old??
You see, even though Abraham and his household was chosen by God to be blessed, everyone was prone to sin. And all of them did sin!
Ishmael, who was 15 years old at that time, sinned by mocking his young half-brother. Sarah sinned with her selfishness. These sins created conflict in the “chosen” family and Abraham was distressed! What happens when one becomes so emotional strained? I’m guessing, like many of us, Abraham was blaming God during this time.
But did you notice what God did?
God intervened and reassured Abraham of his promises! Even when people sin, God is always in control and will keep His promises! Let us quickly note that God gives promises of blessings but also promises of judgment and He keeps His promises!
And so, Abraham obeyed God and sent Hagar and Ishmael to the desert. Hagar and Ishmael ran out of food and water and were near death! Hagar and Ishmael sobbed with grief! How could this happen? God promised Hagar that Ishmael would be a great nation? Did God forget? Of course not!
And so, God spoke to Hagar and reassured her of God’s promise. Look again at v20-21....
And so, 2 different nations arose from Abraham; one from Ishmael and one from Isaac.
The rest of Genesis 21 (v22-34) tells us how Abraham dealt with his neighbors. We can note 2 things from this passage: #1. Abraham was a good witness to his neighbors! King Abimelech noted that God was with Abraham. #2. Because men are sinful, there is a need to be watchful. It was clear that God was involved in Abraham’s life and where he lived, but people still tried to cheat and treaties needed to be established to maintain peace.
Do you still wonder why Israel today acts the way they do? Israel will go to war and agree to treaties to protect the land that God promised them! Israel will continue to fight till they have peace on their land!
Sadly, Israel will not accept the fact that real peace will only come through Jesus Christ! Conflict in the Mideast will continue till Jesus Christ returns to earth!
One of the major points of this message is this:
God keeps His promises and will be there for us even when we make mistakes! This is the first important thing every person must believe!
Yes, God promised Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael that through them many nations will come. God kept His promises even though they made mistakes. God always keeps His promises! But why is there so much trouble in the world, especially in the Mideast? You see, the second most important thing that every person must believe is that God revealed the ultimate promise through Jesus Christ!
We read this in John 3:16-18....
God’s ultimate promise to everyone in the world, whether from the line of Ishmael, Isaac, or others, is whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but have eternal life. And we read from 2 Peter 1:2-3.....
What does this all mean to us today?
Everyone will make mistakes and disobey God.
But God is gracious and is willing to give what people do not deserve.
God today is offering to everyone grace, peace, and everything needed for life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
And anyone who believes and receives this ultimate promise from God through Jesus Christ will have eternal life!
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? Confess to God today that you are sinner and Jesus died for your sins, that He arose from the grave for your life, and that Jesus Christ is your only God who will give you peace. All of us have made mistakes against God and we need His grace. Receive God’s grace through Jesus Christ today!
If you are already a Believer of Christ, we can use the letter to the Christians in Galatia as our instructions regarding this story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac. Let us note that we need to be careful in interpreting the Bible. Not everything in the Bible can be read figuratively. But we can be sure of spiritual aspects of Bible stories when God Himself cites them! According to God’s Word, there is a spiritual aspect to this story of Ishmael and Isaac. Please turn to Galatians 4; read with me v8-9, 22-31....
Before you and I accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, all we knew to do was sin against God. When one truly believes in Jesus Christ, that person is reborn!; born again spiritually! Christians are born of the Spirit and are free from being a slave to sinful things. Christians are children of God’s promise of grace, peace, and godliness!
God is committed to His promises and He gives us instructions on how to experience these promises! Like Isaac, Christians today will be mocked at. How will you respond? Will we obey God’s instructions or respond with our old sinful nature? Christians are to tell the truth in love!
Like Abraham, Christians today will face emotional strains in life. Abraham could have disobeyed God and kept Hagar and Ishmael in his home. Will we listen to God and obey, when we are distressed?
Christians are to live by faith in Christ, not by emotions!
Again like Abraham, Christians will have to face our neighbors and community. Abraham could have disobeyed God and refused to deal with the Philistines. Will we listen to God and obey, when we deal with our society? Christians are to be salt and light to the world not hide in our churches or homes!
Christians are children of promise. Christians are to trust and obey God with confidence. Christians are to do things God’s way, not the old way.
God keeps His promises and will be there for us even when we make mistakes! But you see, God will keep His promises but we can delay these promises when we ourselves disobey. Be watchful! Say no to sin! Say yes to Jesus Christ!
Take time to quietly pray to God right now. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and God, now is the time to do it! Receive God’s ultimate promise, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Maybe there are sins you have to say no to. Ask God to reveal them to you; confess and repent from them and yield to the Holy Spirit within you!
Ask Jesus to help you live by faith in Him and not on your emotions.
