Abrahams descendants were divided into two main groups

Abraham’s descendants were divided into two main groups • Children of the East • The Hebrew people • Hagar bore Ishmael • Sarah bore Isaac in her old age • After Sarah died Abraham took Keturah • God had many who bore him six sons. messengers in this line • There were messengers in this line

The promise to Ishmael • Torah - Genesis 16 • Qur’an - Ibrahim (14), 39 – Ishmael was Abraham’s first born son – Hagar fled because of the cruelty of Sarah, not because Abraham put her away – God sent an angel to name the child – Ishmael means - “Isma” - listen + “El” - God – It is a perpetual reminder of God’s mercy – “I will make a great nation of his descendants” (Gen 17: 20)

The promise confirmed at the spring of water • The angel said to Hagar: ‘Get to your feet, lift the child up and hold him in your arms, because I will make of him a great nation. ’ Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well full of water; she went to it, filled her waterskin and gave the child a drink. God was with the child, and he grew up and lived in the wilderness of Paran. • Torah, Genesis 21: 18 -20 • Qur’an, Maryam (19), 54, 55

God’s plan for these children of Abraham • That they also preserve truth • They would work in partnership with the children of Isaac in keeping the knowledge of God alive • As traders they could carry the light of the knowledge of the true God to distant places

Qur’an, Al Ankabut (29), 27 • And We gave (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, and ordained among his progeny Prophethood and Revelation, and We granted him his reward in this life; and he was in the hereafter (of the company) of the righteous. ” • “Isaac was Abraham’s son and Jacob his grandson, and among his progeny was included Ismail the eldest son of Abraham. Each of these became a fountainhead of Prophecy and Revelation. Isaac and Jacob through Moses, and Ismail through the Holy Prophet Muhammad. ” Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A Promise for the children of Ishmael • In looking forward to the gathering of people from all nations around the throne of God in paradise, prophet Isaiah gave this promise: • Torah, Isaiah chapter 60, verses 6 & 7 • See also Isaiah chapter 42, verses 10 -12

Great caravans of camels will come, from Midian and Ephah. They will come from Sheba, bringing gold and incense. People will tell the good news of what the Lord has done! All the sheep of Kedar and Nebaioth will be brought to you as sacrifices and offered on the alter to please the Lord. The Lord will make his Temple more glorious than ever. (60: 6, 7)

Sing a new song to the Lord; sing his praise, all the world! Praise him, you that sail the sea; praise him, all creatures of the sea! Sing, distant lands and all who live there! Let the desert and its towns praise God; let the people of Kedar praise him! Let those who live in the city of Sela shout for joy from the tops of the mountains! Let those who live in distant lands give praise and glory to the Lord! (42: 10 -12)

God’s activity in the children of Abraham the Hanif Sarai (Genesis 11: 29) Isaac, born when Sarai old Genesis 21: 2 Hagar (Genesis 16: 3) Together they buried Abraham Genesis 25 Ishmael (1 st born) Genesis 16: 15; Qur’an, Ibrahim (14), 39; Baqara (2), 127

God’s plan for cooperation Joseph (son of Jacob, son of Isaac) Moses, son of Amram Joseph rescued by Ishmaelites and Midianites Torah, Genesis 37; Ishmaelites & Midianites Qur’an, Yusuf (12) Moses given refuge and taught more about the one God by men of the East. Torah, Exodus 2, Job 1 Qur’an, Al Qasas (28), 22 -28 Jethro & Job (Shu’aib & Ayyub) Qur’an, Al Anbiya (21), 83, 84

The partnership continues Hebrew worship in temple Joshua Eastern traders provided the oil and spices for the Hebrew worship Torah, Exodus 30 Son of Isaac and Son of the East lead Hebrew people into Canaan. Torah, Numbers 14: 30: Joshua 14; Qura’n, Al Maidah (5), 2026 Anointing oil and spices for the temple worship Caleb – an Arab name. Caleb’s nephew, Othniel became first judge of Israel (Judges 3: 9)

Jews about to enter Canaan Balaam blesses Israel, prophesies of Al Masih Numbers 22 -24 Qur’an Al Araf (7), 175 Suleiman Queen of the East brings gifts to Solomon 1 Kings 10; Qur’an, Al Naml (27), 2344 Shepherds from the line of Isaac Jesus – Isa al Masih Luke 2; Matthew 2; Qur’an, Al Imran (3), 42 - 51 Balaam (son of Eastern Children) Queen of Sheba 3 “wise” men from the East bring gold & spices

What happened to these children of the East after Isa? Jewish & “Gentile” followers of Isa Genuine followers of Biblical faith – persecuted by the Roman and Byzantine church Referred to in Revelation 12 as “the church in the wilderness” Early disciples of Isa interacted spiritually with Arabs (Acts 2) Arabia was a refuge for Paul (Galatians 1: 17) Waldenses in N. Italy. Arab followers of “the Way” and other excommunicated Christians sought refuge and fellowship with Arabs in the dessert of Arabia – were known as “Hanif” Arab followers of “the Way” of Isa In northern Arabia, faithful believers stood against the polytheism of surrounding religions such as the multiple gods of the Nabataeans

“An Era of Spiritual Darkness” • “For centuries Europe had made no progress in learning, arts, or civilization. A moral and intellectual paralysis had fallen upon Christendom. ” • My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of Me]. Torah, Hosea 4: 6 • This was the result of forbidding the reading or study of the Bible, and enforcing human tradition instead of God’s truth. And using the power of the state to enforce religious “orthodoxy”. • HOWEVER… • The era of the “jahiliyah” saw an increase in pagan worship (Nabitaeans, Tribal religions, and other belief systems such as Zorastrianism)

God kept truth alive! • “Church in the wilderness” preserves copies of the Scriptures when mainline Christianity is forbidding possession of the Scriptures and trying to destroy old copies of manuscripts. • Hunafa – Islam • Muhammad • Two primary truths emphasized against the apostasy prevailing in the area- • One God • Day of accountability (judgment) • The most authoritative manuscripts of the Bible were preserved in Muslim countries

The Nestorian Christians of Hirta (on Iran/Iraq border) formed a close community, calling themselves “servants of God” whose inner unity transcended traditional Arab tribal differences. Both Jews and Christian immigrants to the desert found a ready welcome among those Arabs who upheld the Mesopotamian. Abrahamic tradition. Together , they consolidated that tradition in Peninsular Arabia which came to be known as Hanifiyyah. (Samuel Moffett, Its adherents, the hanif(s), resisted every Christian Historian) association of other gods with God, refused to participate in pagan rituals, and maintained a life of ethical purity above reproach…The hanifs always stood above tribal disputes and hostilities. ” (Isma’il al Faruqi, Muslim historian)

What about Today? • People of the Book • looking for the coming of Isa • proclaim the judgment hour message • call for people to honor the Creator God • Focus on preparing a people for the end of time. • Avoid what God has forbidden (alcohol, pork, tobacco, gambling) ? Hanif – God’s “Last Day special people” proclaiming the nearness of the end of time, the one Creator God, day of judgment, to prepare a people for the end of time.

God is looking for a quality of faith among His end time people Allah is our Lord and your Lord: For us (is the responsibility for) our deeds, and for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is (our) final goal. Surah 42 Al Shura, vs 15

My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations. Then I saw another angel flying high in the air, with an eternal message of Good News to announce to the peoples of the earth, to every race, tribe, language, and nation. He said in a loud voice, “Honor God and praise his greatness! For the time has come for Him to judge mankind. Worship Him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water!” Book of Isa, Revelation 14: 6, 7

Say: Lo! As for me, my Lord hath guided me unto a straight path, a right religion, the community of Abraham, the upright [Hanif], who was no idolater Say: Lo! my worship and, my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Surah 6 (Al An’am), verses 161, 162