Ishmael 101

Another Sunday, another enlightening edition of Speaking of Faith. I really should temper these theological posts with funnier ones in between, shouldn’t I? Oh well, that’s for another day. ;)

Today, the discussion was about Abraham, and his role as patriarch of three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Now, the guest was pretty light on theological insight...he confessed that his scholarly work was more historical in context. So, I just took straight to Genesis to see what it had to say.

Before getting into the verses, let me preface it by saying that I had read through these verses several times, but never had they had such an amazing impact.

Let’s first talk about the words that you might expect to be there:

In Genesis 16:12, as Hagar (Abra[ha]m’s maidservant/Ishmael’s mother) is pregnant, the angel of the Lord proclaims that Ishmael’s “hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

And then, in Genesis 25:18, after Abraham’s death, it is noted that Ishmael’s sons moved to Egypt and did, in fact, live “in hostility toward all their brothers.”

However, there are some amazing verses in between these “hostile” bookends.

In Genesis 17, when God reveals to Abraham that Sarah will provide him a son to receive God’s covenant, Abraham shows the love of father, when he says, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” And then, God makes a potentially surprising response: “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.” Now, God does make it clear that his covenant will be with Isaac, not Ishmael, but that doesn’t negate the fact that God vows to bless Ishmael’s lineage.

But, it gets even more intriguing. After Isaac is born, Sarah insists that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. Abraham reluctantly concedes and sends them out with food and water. We pick up that story with Genesis 21:15-20a:

“When the water in the skin was gone, (Hagar) put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, ‘I cannot watch the boy die.’ And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, ‘What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.’ Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew.”

Two things strike me about this passage. First, look at the compassion shown by God. I mean, this is picture of a God whose hand is outstretched to Ishmael, a God who provides for Ishmael. In spite of the darkness that the Bible hints will rise from pockets of Islam, this is a group of people who has still prospered because of God’s blessing. Secondly, I’m astonished that these words have actually survived in the text of the Bible. For all the energy that has been spent throughout history to refine Biblical texts (particularly with the goal of pointing readers toward Judaism/Christianity as the religion of choice), it’s very profound that these verses are still around. I don’t think it’s by accident.

The last verses I want to share are Genesis 25:7-9: “Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah.”

Picture the scene. Ishmael was sent away decades ago; the rift between the half-brothers has had plenty of time to build. Yet, with the death of Abraham, the two come together to share in the funeral. It’s an amazing image, when you consider what each of these men represent. At that moment, at the very beginning of divergence in these two cultures, they shared a moment of, at the very least, civility and respect. I find that an extremely important recognition.

Of course, there are more pragmatic Christians out there, ones who are quick to point out the definitive tone of the angel, when it proclaims the hostility that will plague Ishmael’s descendents. However, I think Abraham’s funeral offers hope against that argument; that stands as a moment, chronicled in our own Scripture, when the hostility was not in the forefront. What brought them together that day? Their shared ancestry. And it’s that commonality among the religions, not least of which being the shared history of God’s provision, that offers us potential for moments of civility and respect today. Of course, these days, there is hostility, in various forms, on both sides of the argument, isn’t there?

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9