The Children Of Abraham - Part One

The Descendants of Hagar

To understand Israel’s end time destiny and how the church is connected to that destiny, we must go back to the man in scripture that started it all – Abraham. There are three different generational lines that comprise Abraham’s descendants. Abraham had three wives – Hagar, Sarah and Keturah – and had children by each. Even though most Bible teaching on the line of Abraham centers mainly on Sarah, as it probably should, since ISAAC was the promised seed through which Messiah came and will ultimately rule the Earth from Jerusalem, we must also understand the roles and origins of Hagar and Keturah to show us the greater work of God’s dealings with the Middle East, specially that of the lineage of Ishmael,  With nearly 1.2 billion Muslims in the world today and Islam being the fastest growing threat to Christianity and Israel – it would serve us wisely to understand these peoples and see what impact their salvation will ultimately have on the Middle East.

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Genesis 25:12-13 - Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: [13] And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

Genesis 21:1-3  - And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. [2] For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. [3] And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

Genesis 25:1-6  - Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. [2] And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. [3] And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. [4] And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

    [5] And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. [6] But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

To understand Israel’s end time destiny and how the church is connected to that destiny, we must go back to the foundational man in scripture that started it all – Abraham. Abraham is considered the father of the Hebrew nation but Abraham’s role in Bible prophecy has a wider range of impact than just on the Jewish race.

The Jews are not the only seed Abraham the Patriarch produced. In fact there are three different generational lines that comprise Abraham’s descendants. Abraham had three wives – Hagar, Sarah and Keturah – and had children by each. Most Bible teaching on the line of Abraham centers mainly on Sarah, as it probably should, since ISAAC was the promised seed through which Messiah would come. But not understanding the roles and origins of Hagar and Keturah may blind us to the greater scope of God’s dealings with the Middle East –, especially that of the lineage of Ishmael who is the head of the Arab world. With nearly 1.2 billion Muslims in the world today and Islam being the fastest growing threat to Christianity and Israel – it would serve us wisely to understand these peoples and see what impact their salvation would ultimately have on peace in the Middle East.

Having said that, let me make something clear. It is the opinion of this writer that no peace is coming to the Middle East, at least lasting peace, until Jesus returns. The Antichrist will solve the Middle East situation temporarily but it will only be to further his push for world domination and control. He will take peace from the earth shortly thereafter and plunge the world into the greatest time of tribulation known to man. It is possible that nearly 4 to 5 billion people will die during the seven year period known as the Great Tribulation.

Matthew 24:21-23 -

    For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. [23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Together, ALL THREE lineages comprise the descendants of Abraham. This journal is about the descendants of Hagar, who actually brought forth Abraham’s FIRSTBORN son, Ishmael. Abram and Sarai (as they were called before God changed their names) had more than most couples could ask for in terms of wealth, prestige, servants and possessions.  But when it came to having that they really wanted, they came up short. Abram and Sarai were barren and, to make matters worse, they were well over normal childbearing age. It was a great surprise to Abram when God took him outside and said,

Genesis 15:5

    And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

            Abram believed God against all odds, but after years of waiting he and Sarai took matters into their own hands. One day Sarai came to Abram, probably quite frustrated and said:

Genesis 16:2

    And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

            Abram listened to his wife, and took Sarai’s EGYPTIAN maidservant, Hagar, who conceived right on the spot. This made Sarai despise Hagar and treat her very harshly. Hagar, though not responsible for the decision that led to her pregnancy, was put in a place where she, not Sarai, felt like an outcast.  In despair, Hagar went out into the wilderness. Genesis records this event in 16:7:

Genesis 16:7

    And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

            What Hagar heard next was too a surprise considering the pain she was feeling from being despised by Sarai:

Genesis 16:10

    And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

    So Hagar bore Abram a son and Abram called him Ishmael.

Genesis 16:16

    And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

            Some 13 years passed. Abram had a teenage son, and Sarai had a despised maid with a son who resembled her husband. To be frank those 13 years were probably not the most pleasant. Abraham was 99 years old when the Lord appeared to him and said:

Genesis 17:2-7

    And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. [3] And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, [4] As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. [5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. [6] And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. [7] And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

            After this God instituted the covenant of circumcision with Abraham and his descendants, which we will discuss more in detail in a moment. What God said next brought Abraham to his knees in laughter.

Genesis 17:15-17

    And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. [16] And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. [17] Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

            After enduring decades of barrenness, and then 13 years of strife and struggle between Sarai and Hagar, Abraham exclaimed:

Genesis 17:18

    And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

            Abraham loved Ishmael and wanted him to be blessed. God replied:

Genesis 17:19

    And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

The Promise to Bless Ishmael

            God continued to say to Abraham:

Genesis 17:20-21

    And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. [21] But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

            Just like Abraham’s grandson Jacob (later renamed Israel), Ishmael would be the father of 12 tribes. Even though God said, “My covenant is established with Isaac,” there was a PROPHETIC pronouncement given to Ishmael that we cannot avoid. If we are going to properly pray for Israel, we must get a wider view of the picture. The line of Ishmael has great hostility toward the line of Isaac. This is not anything “new.” That hostility goes back to the pages of Genesis. But there are prophetic promises that one day that hostility will turn into unity with both worshipping at the same altar and worshipping the same MESSIAH! That Messiah is Jesus Christ.

            Let’s get back to the question of circumcision. Circumcision is no big deal to the Western world.

It is simply a medical health procedure performed on a newborn baby boy. But the Bible looks at circumcision as an external sign of a covenant being kept between God and His people. The apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians (and also in Romans) speaks a great deal about the SPIRITUAL symbolism contained in a PHYSICAL ACT God commanded Abraham to perform.

We need to understand that the FIRST person to receive God’s covenant of circumcision was NOT Abraham OR Isaac, the child of promise- it was ISHMAEL!  Abraham was circumcised later on in the same day, at 99 years old, but Ishmael at only age 13 was “circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin” FIRST.

Genesis 17:25

    And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

            Even though the first man to receive circumcision in his flesh would eventually head the Arab nation, he was also HALF Hebrew because he came from Abraham’s seed. Abraham was a Moabite-Hebrew. The term “Jew” wasn’t even in existence yet. The word “Jew,” or “Jewish,” was taken from the tribe of Judah, the fourth of 12 sons born to Israel, from whom the 12 tribes of Israel originated.”

This was a great event in the life of Isaac as well and brought the beginning conflict of the two seeds and lines to the surface. The Bible says that Abraham had made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac and id not like it.  This brought a proclamation from Sarah:

Genesis 21:10

    Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

            There was a reason she responded as she did; one man, two women and two sons is not a proven combination for harmony. Abraham was greatly unsettled because he cared for Ishmael, a son born of his own flesh. God exhorted Abraham to obey Sarah’s voice and do as she ask. Thus, Abraham sent Hagar and the child away once again into the wilderness of Beer-sheba:

Genesis 21:12-13

    And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. [13] And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

            What a demonstration of God’s faithfulness! Despite Ishmael being a by-product of the flesh trying to work out God’s promises, as Abraham’s descendant, God promised to bless him. Abraham was torn, yet comforted by these words:

Genesis 21:14

    And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-Sheba.

    As Hagar sat a distance away from her son, who was thirsty and crying, the angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar a second time. In their first encounter, while she was a pregnant runaway, the angel had declared to her:

Genesis 16:10

    And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

And the angel of the Lord affirmed her son again:

Genesis 21:18

    Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

    God miraculously provided water for Hagar and Ishmael, and they survived:

Genesis 21:20

    And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

   The Bible says that “God was with the lad!”  This was another demonstration of God’s divine mercy, blessing a mess that Abraham and Sarah created. (Thank God He does that for us too many times because of His mercy to towards us – be careful as to how we judge Abraham and Sarah for their actions- we have many Ishmael’s in our lives!) Hagar was an Egyptian, so the FRUIT that FIRST came from Abraham was HALF EGYPTIAN and HALF MOABITE-HEBREW.

Genesis 16:1

    Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

    Hagar took a wife for Ishmael from the land of EGYPT and from Ishmael came TWELVE TRIBES, a GREAT NATION. The Bible says so, three times it declared. This great nation descended from Ishmael is the ARAB PEOPLE.

All Nations Will Be Blessed

The Lord made it clear from the start that ALL who would come from Abraham would be blessed.

Genesis 12:1-3

    Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shall be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

    Through Abram ALL the families of the earth shall be BLESSED. ALL! That includes the descendants of ISHMAEL – the Arab peoples. Some 24 years after Abram’s first commissioning, the Lord spoke to Abram:

Genesis 17:7

    And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

    The term “generations” gives meaning to the fact that Abraham became the “father of a multitude.” Paul emphasized that God “made from one man, every nation,” to live on the earth, according to certain boundaries so they could seek God.

Acts 17:26-27 - And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; [27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

The Real Enemy Of Middle East Peace

            It is easy, including myself many times, to label the Arab world “the enemies” of Israel. In a very small sense that statement is true because of their willingness to be used by Satan to inflict pain and suffering on the seed of Abraham through Sarah – the Jewish people.

 Despite that we must come to grips with the fact that the Arab world is NOT THE ENEMY, the powers that influence them are! SATAN IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BLOODSHED AGAINST THE ISRAELI PEOPLE. Yes, the Arab world have a ancient hatred in their heart toward the Jewish race, but where did the hatred come from? SATAN! The Palestinians who live side by side right now to Israel and foment great violence on a regular basis are not the enemy of peace. The spirit INCITING that violence is the enemy and that spirit is a spirit from Satan, not God. We do not wrestle against PEOPLE; we do not wrestle against flesh and blood; we wrestle against powers, principalities and spirits of wickedness in the heavenly places, which do operate through people. But we do not wrestle against people. We wrestle against powers of darkness.

Ezekiel 35:1-4
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it, [3] And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate. [4] I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:

Ezekiel 36:1-5
Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord: [2] Thus saith the Lord God; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession: [3] Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people: [4] Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about; [5] Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.
 

Ephes. 6:10-12

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

            Israel is the apple of God’s eye, but that does not make Ishmael the hated enemy. You do not have to hate the Arabs to love Israel. We can and SHOULD love both!

            Rick Riddings, a prophetic, intercessory-missionary statesmen who, after years of service in Belgium, now live with their family in Jerusalem. Rick says this:

“If you love the Jews with a soulish love, you will hate the Arabs. If you love the Arabs with a soulish love, you will hate the Jews. But if you love either people (Jews or Arabs) with God’s heart, then you will authentically love the others.”

            God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord, his nature changed and he became Israel. God confirmed His covenant with both the descendants of Abraham and the seed of Abraham. When we are speaking about this enduring covenant, you see, there is a difference between the plural word “descendants,” and singular word “seed.” The apostle Paul talks about the SEED, singular, saying that Jesus the Messiah is the one seed through which we have received the great covenant of grace and salvation! Jesus is the Son of ABRAHAM and the son of David. Paul goes on to say this:

Galatians 3:29

    And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

            This seed comes for us through a covenant line of faith, not soul and flesh. The original commission that was given to Abraham is, in a sense, the same commission that is later given to the Church:

Matthew 28:19

    Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

These are the same nations that God promised would be blessed through Abraham’s seed. One blessing does not nullify the other! Both the spiritual descendants of Abraham and the physical descendants of Abraham are valid recipients of God’s grace. We are not in competition!

The Prophetic Destiny of Ishmael

Genesis 25:12-14

    Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, [14] And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, [15] Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

            For us to understand the destiny of Ishmael, we must understand his lineage. God’s word to Abraham about 12 princes coming from Ishmael came to pass. The next few verses give us the names of the 12 sons of Ishmael, but we will only look at the first two, Nebaioth the firstborn and Kedar.

            One fact to note for future reference is where Ishmael’s descendants settled. Look at genesis 25:16-18:

Genesis 25:16-18

    These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. [17] And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. [18] And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

    Compare that passage with one in Isaiah 60:7:

Isaiah 60:7

    All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaitoth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

    Who is Kedar? He is the SECOND SON OF Ishmael – and Abraham’s GRANDSON! In the second part of the passage in Isaiah, “the rams of Nebaitoth shall minister unto thee (Israel).” Who is Nebaitoth? He was the FIRSTBORN of Ishmael! Who is the “THEE” in this passage? It’s none other than the children of Israel!!!!! Are you getting this message? The Lord is saying, “Ishmael, you’re sons Kedar and Nebaitoth, Abraham’s grandsons, are going to worship at the same altar as Isaac and Jacob!” That’s shouting ground there friends! That’s a reason to Praise God. That’s a reason to say thank you Jesus. For God so loved the WORLD – Jew and Gentile – that HE GAVE His only begotten SON that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

John 3:16

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

            We see the descendants of Ishmael worshiping with acceptance at the altar of God, which is a type of the Cross of Christ. We see in this prophetic passage in Isaiah, the Arab world “glorifying the house of my glory,” according to God’s spoken word. There is going to be an altar of worship from the line of Ishmael! God has an enormous heart and He has plans for all peoples, including Hagar’s son, Ishmael, the FIRSTBORN of Abraham. And it covers Ishmael’s sons, KEDAR and NEBAITOTH. These are the Arab people.

Isaiah 60:1-3

    Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. [2] For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. [3] And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

    Isaiah predicts darkness will cover the earth, and a GROSS darkness the people. I believe the darkness over the earth and the gross darkness over the hearts of the people is the veil of Islam. Islam has become the greatest “threat” to Christianity and to Israel, the seed of Sarah, in these last days prior to the Lord’s return. THIS IS A SPIRITUAL WAR AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES NOT A WAR AGAINST A PEOPLE GROUP! We must take up an intercessor’s role against the powers of darkness.  We must ARISE, and SHINE, for OUR LIGHT HAS COME and that light is the GOSPEL of the Lord Jesus Christ. That light is the GLORY OF THE LORD RISING upon us!

            This lesson/journal is just the beginning. There are two more lines of Abraham’s seed we plan to look at in this study. The Muslim world is going to see revival. This may not take place in totality until after the Tribulation but the day will come when the line of Ishmael will worship at the altar of the Lord!

            Sandra Teplinsky explains it this way:

From God’s perspective, it is harvest time for Arab Muslim souls, though a stiff price will likely be paid for it. Amid the world’s war on terror, expect to see masses of converted Arabs and prepare to undergird them sacrificially. Remember that for the patriarch’s sake thyey, to, are uniquely loved.”

            Avner Boskey of Final Frontier Ministries says this about the coming revival in the Muslim world:

“The Bible’s prophetic word has shaped much of the destiny of the greater Arab nation and its relationship with the world. Fierce independence, a wild and untamable soul, and arrogant animosity can characterize Arab dealings (at their worst) with the world. But the Arab world at its best manifests freedom of abandoned worship, generosity, graciousness and sacrificial zeal. When Messiah Jesus is allowed to transform their hearts, the descendants of Ishmael will find God bringing sweet out of the bitter, and they will discover the beauty of their Abrahamic connection in a totally new way. Peace and cooperation will supplant wildness and strife, and love between Arab and Jewish cousins will bloom again.”

            Let’s pierce the veil of Islam through the power of the Gospel of the Kingdom and call forth the fulfillment of God’s great promise. God has, after all, promised in the book of Revelation that there will be before His throne a people of every tongue, of every tribe, of every kindred and of every nation.

Rev. 5:9-10 - And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; [10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Let us reach into the heart of God for the PROPHETIC destiny of the tribe of the 12 princes of Ishmael and speak LIFE instead of death. Remember this. If we pray for salvation to come to Israel’s enemies, as well as the Jewish people themselves, don’t you think that just might bring peace to the Middle East? What great testimony would it be to have Israel’s enemies wishing to worship with her at the same altar and worshipping the same Messiah? Neighbor, that day will come. There will be deep bloodshed and tears in between as the world is plunged into Great Tribulation but one day BOTH MUSLIM and JEW will worship together! The word of God declares it and I believe friend that settles it. This message series has two more parts and we encourage you to look for those in the next few days on Spirit Journals. Blessings.

Click here for Bibliography and sources of further study on the Children of Abraham

The Children of Abraham - Part Three - The Descendants of Keturah- 2/21/06

The Children of Abraham - The Descendants of Sarah- 2/18/06

The Children Of Abraham Part One - The Descendants of Hagar - 2/15/06

Click here for Bibliography and sources of further study on the Children of Abraham