The Forgotten Promises
Ishmael and his Descendants from the Persepective of
God's Mission
At a recent seminar I attended
with four other CBC members, I was awakened to scriptures that revealed
God’s heart for all mankind. How often we have been influenced by world
news and views instead of allowing God’s word to dwell richly in our
lives to impact our thinking and actions. Indeed, we must take God’s
word seriously, especially Rev. 22:18-19. What has been prophesied will
come to pass! And none should add nor subtract His sacred word.
We were challenged with the Mission of the Triune God – 1) God, the
Father, through His promise-plan and by His redemptive acts, is
actively reconciling the nations to Himself. 2) Jesus Christ, the Son,
has embodied the mission and it will also be completed by Him. 3) The
Holy Spirit calls us and equips us to take part in God’s mission today.
On two occasions, God reached down to save the life of Hagar and
Ishmael in Genesis 16 and 21. This represents God’s missionary heart
and compassion.
Ishmael is the first of the non-covenant peoples to receive a divine
blessing (Gen.17:20). The Arabs / Ishmaelites are the first nations to
come to the New Jerusalem in Isaiah 60 to present their gifts on the
temple altar. The magi (wise men), who were arguably Arabian, were the
first among Matthew’s Gentiles to worship the Christ child (Mt.2:1-12).
The Arabs were the first Gentiles to whom Paul preached the Gospel
(Gal.1:17-18; 2 Cor.11:32).
This coming “first”
and “going to first” does not represent human initiatives; rather, it
represents God’s divine intervention according to His providential plan.
We need to ask: As the Church today, are we in step with God’s plan for
Ishmael and his descendants? Looking at the mission thrust today, the
concentration of ministry is not to those who comprise 20% of the
world’s population. Only 5% of all missionaries focus on them. Has the
church become like Sarah, who said, “Cast out the bond woman and her
son”?
We were drawn to note the Community of Witness through Origen, Luther
and others, who acknowledged God’s mission to the Arabs. Origen
(185-254 AD) possessed a missionary passion to win the Arabs of his day
to Christ. He made three pastoral visits to the churches in Arabia.
Origen believed that Ishmael and his descendants had “a share in the
divine blessing” through Abraham.
Luther (d.1542) and his preachers had no real opportunity do missionary
journeys to them. Yet, in his commentary on Genesis, he spoke kindly
and compassionately of Ishmael, noting that “Ishmael was not altogether
shut out from the covenant of grace.”
Attending this seminar has changed my attitude and prayers for my
‘spiritual cousins.’
This coming “first”
and “going to first” does not represent human initiatives; rather, it
represents God’s divine intervention according to His providential plan.