As Kara and I prepare to return to the Israel in several days, I’m prompted to think of the unrest boiling, as always, over there.
Have you ever thought about what that struggle really represents? And who is actually battling?
“And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” (Genesis 17:20-21)
Ishmael is the patriarch of the Muslim world. Muslims believe that it was Ishmael who God had Abraham take up the mountain to sacrifice instead of Isaac (thus foreshadowing our Father in Heaven sacrificing His Son). God makes it clear from the beginning that even though Abraham took matters into his own hands in trying to force God’s will to come to pass, God would still bless this line.
There are tons of prophecies about this in scripture, but I’ll just give one more:
“All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple.” (Isaiah 60:7) Kedar and Nebaioth are the first two of the twelve sons of Ishmael (and thus descended of Abraham). God is starting to bring to pass His promise to bring His blessing to all the sons of Abraham!
We look and see fighting in the Middle East (as there will be until Messiah returns), but do we see God’s plan of redemption in it? Do we see the Spiritual struggle for souls going on? Can you look above what’s happening there in the physical world and see what’s happening in the spiritual?
Now what about in your own life? Can you look at it in this context?