The Other One
“And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.” Genesis 21:13 NASB
Descendant – In his book, Not In God’s Name, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks notes the fine distinction between the verbs used to describe Abraham’s relationship with Isaac and his relationship with Ismael. Genesis 21:3 says that Abraham called his son by the name Isaac. But God uses a different word when it comes to Ismael. Ismael is zaraka, “your seed, your offspring.” The distinction is important. Isaac is ascribed covenant responsibility. Ismael is included in another promise given to Abraham. They do not share the same election but neither one is cast out.
Sacks’ point helps him draw conclusions about the necessity of recognizing the family of Man under the sovereignty of God in order to supplant divisions that are the root cause of religious evil. But we might draw another conclusion as well. We Gentiles who are grafted in to the family of Abraham were once like Ismael, outside the covenant promise but not forgotten by the Creator. The fact that we are grafted in does not change our original relationship. We have always been His children even though we have not always enjoyed the promise given through Isaac. But God never abandoned us, no matter where we began. We could all be sons and daughters of Egyptian slave-women and it wouldn’t make any difference to His care.
Sometimes in our desire to be a part of the covenant family we put so much emphasis on “Jewish” roots that we forget the greater picture. We are His creations. We belong to Him no matter where we started. He has a love for us simply because we are His exquisite handiwork. Of course, it’s nice to know that we can participate in the fellowship of the chosen people, but here we find that even those “not chosen” are loved by the Father. They also belong to the family of Abraham, just in a different way. God is not the God of the Jews only. I don’t need Jewish blood in my veins to know that He loves me and wants me to enjoy His fellowship. I am the “other one” He loves.
If you ever felt as if somehow you missed out because you didn’t come from one of the sons of Ya’akov, remember Ismael. I don’ mean (obviously) that you have Muslim heritage. Islam usurped Ismael as its ancestor thousands of years after his birth. What I mean (obviously) is that God cares about all His children. He has a purpose for all His children. Celebrate the discovery that you belong. Far too often in these days of Messianic ambition we attempt to establish genealogy through our own bloodline investigations. What if you should discover that your long-lost ancestor was Ismael? Does that really matter? YHVH doesn’t seem to think so.
Topical Index: Ismael, Abraham, lineage, Genesis 21:13
Is this something like:
One like the sands of the sea – Will be blessed in everything they tackle naturally. (To add value and survival needs for all nations)
One like the stars of heaven – Will be blessed by guiding and helping others when they are caught in the void of life. (Uselessness of mankind’s self centered activities)
Skip as you pointed out we need to acknowledge that both these realities are through the will of YHVH the same as are the Old Covenant followers and New Covenant followers…
Remember two large lights: Sun for the day, Moon for the night. YHVH’s creation, Torah and guidelines are found in every part of the creation and religious or rather faith progression throughout the history of mankind.
Good word, Skip.
Thank you Skip is all I can say!
We are all His creation! Amein!
One of the reasons I am aware of is that of making aliyah to Israel, and that can only be done if one has ‘Jewish’ DNA.
Islam has usurped Ismael as its ancestor thousands of years after his birth.
Ismael and Isaac has the same DNA coming from the same father, they are half-brothers, turned against each other, as one is of the flesh / bondage / not of the will of יְהֹוָה , and the other of the promise of יְהֹוָה /covenant.