Christians and Jews are connected to Muslims through their Father Abraham. By way of background, Muslims believe Islam originated from Ishmael, which means “God hears” (see Genesis 16:11-12). Ishmael was the first son of Abraham by the Egyptian concubine named Hagar (see Genesis 16:1-16). The Holy Bible teaches that Ishmael was born when Abraham was 86 years old. Ishmael was born in Abraham’s attempt to fulfill God’s promise by human means with Hagar and not through his wife Sarah (see also Romans 9:7; Galatians 4:23). Hagar and her son Ishmael were near death in the wilderness when the Angel of the LORD directed Hagar to a well to save her and her son’s life (see Genesis 21:8-21). The Holy Bible teaches that the living LORD God was with Ishmael, and Ishmael was also under God’s blessing (see Genesis 17:18-20; Genesis 21:20). The living LORD God promised Hagar He would multiple Ishmael and his descendants (see Genesis 16:10-12).
Furthermore, the living LORD God promised Abraham that He would bless his son Ishmael, make him fruitful, and greatly increase Ishmael into a great nation (see Genesis 17:20-21; Genesis 21:13, 17-19). Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised in the flesh (see Genesis 17:26). Ishmael was one of the first to experience the physical sign of God’s covenant – circumcision. According to the Holy Scriptures, Ishmael was the father of twelve sons (see Genesis 25:12-16). Many Arabs claim Ishmael as their forefather and thus Palestine as their land. Also, Israel’s founding fathers — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) lay claim to Palestine as their land. In the New Testament, Jesus declared that everyone who accepts, loves, and obeys Him as the living LORD God’s Son become part of His family and grafted into God’s people – Israel and Abraham’s seed (see e.g., John 1:12-13; Luke 8:21; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:19-22).
Therefore, let us all love one another (see Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9)!
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God bless you! You are loved by God (Romans 5:5).