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Bible Question: My question is about the Middle East conflict. Can you explain how the conflict started?
Bible Answer: The Middle East conflict started when Abraham's wife, Sarah, did not follow God's will. God promised Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:2; 15:18). Since Abraham and Sarah had no children at that time, Sarah suggested that Abraham have a child by her handmaid, Hagar (Gen. 16:1-2). Sarah was "helping God out." She had her own idea as to how Abraham could become the father of a great nation. She had a plan. She had an idea as to how to accomplish God's will. So she took control and offered Abraham her maid as a concubine. She may have done this because of unbelief (Genesis 18:11-15), but we cannot be sure of her motivation at that time. What we do know is that this was not God's will. As a result, trouble followed. Yes, her plan worked. Abraham and Hagar had a child. Things looked great. I am sure she believed that God had blessed her plan, but what followed revealed her sin. She became jealous and Hagar fled. The Lord had more compassion than Sarah. Here is what followed between God and Hagar:
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Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they shall be too many to count." The angel of the LORD said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. "And he will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers." (NASB) Genesis 16:10-12 |
Notice God's statement about the conflict that would follow. The conflict would be between Isaac and Ishmael. God promised to make great nations of both Isaac and Ishmael. Isaac would be the father of Israel and Ishmael the father of the Arabs.
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And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year. (NASB) Genesis 17:20-21 |
Sometime after Isaac was born, Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away. They went into the desert to live.
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