On Ishmael, and what God had to say...
And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
–-Genesis 16:12
Several other translations provide a different interpretation of the last clause...
...and he will live in hostility towards all his brothers.
Which, if you look at the whole of the first example says the very same thing...
"His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence [returning to the first portion describing his violence toward others and returned violence to him] of all his brethren... In other words, 'He will live in violence among all his brethren.' Ishmael is half-brother to Isaac, but not heir to the promises of God made to Abram and his descendants. Other promises are given to the descendants of Ishmael.
Christians, by extension of faith in Almighty God, are brethren to the Jews... and the children of Ishmael as well.
God cannot lie. His word is true.
from the mind of... Eric | 8:18 PM
6 Comments:
Great post, El! Have you noticed that "science" is coming out of the closet?
"Science", today, is coming out and openly declaring war on Christianity and creationism.
but don't forget....God also promised to bless the decendents of Ishmel. and if you look into islam, it all started with an angel coming to mohammad declaring the Gospel. The same message given to the shepherds the night jesus was born.....Joy to the world!
The same message that is given every person on earth.
God promised Ishmael that his children would be princes, and they were; that his descendants would be great, and they are. The Arab people are great in number. But the promise of God to Ishmael was strictly of a worldly nature.
Salvation is still of the Jews, through Jesus. It would seem Muslims have forgotten much.
Nonsense. This is the same kind of tribalism and religious zealotry that led to 9/11 and the religious strife we see in the Middle East.
You can't base policy on ancient texts. Who gets to choose? Haven't you noticed that every culture thinks it's the chosen people?
And D. Elrod, you don't know what you are talking about. If anything, scientists are responding to a concerted effort to replace the teaching of science in the classroom with superstitious notions. Mainly, though, they are just working to apply the lessons of evolutionary study to prevent and cure diseases (bird flu, malaria, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc etc etc), one or several of which you may face in your lifetime. They deserve your thanks, not your scorn.
"You can't base policy on ancient texts."
"Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
--Exodus 20:13-16
Only three of ten, to keep this discussion secular. Interestingly enough, all three are crimes, and punishable as such in our modern society. The fourth crime of adultery is still applicable and punishable under the USMCJ. Now, compare this ...policy based on ancient texts with that of Shari'a Law's retributional eye-for-an-eye brand of justice, that includes maiming, stoning and beheadings, then decide which one you'd rather live under.
As to 'Religious Zealotry', it is not Christians we hear about everynight on the evening news, who are kidnapping and butchering innocents, demanding the murder of blasphemers, and blowing themselves and innocent civilians up into messy gobbets of gore. It wasn't Christians who flew airliners into the Twin Towers, or the Pentagon, or that empty field in Pennsylvania. Nor did Christians blow up a night club in Bali, or a wedding party in Jordan. Christians didn't plan and perform the attacks on the London Underground. Religious Zealotry?! It's not Christians who routinely murder wives, daughters, and daughters in law for a perceived stain against their family's honor. It's not Christians who perform surgical mutilation on the genitalia of their women.
"Who Get's to choose?"
I get to choose. You get to choose. We all get to choose... And pay the consequence of said choice.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
--Joshua 24:15
Allah is not God.
Don't kill. Don't steal. Don't lie. How incredibly unobvious! Wow, if we didn't have the ten commandments, what would we do?
And my point is not to defend Islam, it's to point out that religion is the problem.
But leaving that aside, perhaps you can answer these questions on the biblical teachings in Leviticus:
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
Remember, God cannot lie. His word is true.
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