The Spirit of Ishmael
Hump Day - Day Of Prayer For The Muslim World Vol. 130
"God heard the boy crying..." Genesis 21:17
Today's Hump Day newsletter was inspired by portions of a book called "The Political Spirit" by former Sunni Muslim, Faisal Malick. We hope you will keep and use this newsletter to pray for the Muslim world in light of the 10/10 Prayer Initiative whose vision is to see at least 10% of the Muslim world come to Jesus by the end of 2027.
Over 2,000 years before Muhammad began the religion of Islam, Abraham (Ibrahim in Islam) had a son through the maidservant, Hagar. The son's name was Ishmael, and you may not have known about his great influence among Muslims. What does this influence look like, and how can we pray?
Ishmael - Through The Eyes Of Islam
- Muslims see Ishmael as the promised son of Abraham - NOT Isaac
- Therefore, Muslims see themselves as the favored ones
- Many believe Ishmael was the founder of the Arabs
- Seen as a patriarch and prophet of Islam as well as a direct ancestor to Muhammad
- Often associated with Mecca and the construction of the Kaaba
Ishmael - Biblical Prophecies And Fulfillment
1. "He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers." (Genesis 16:12)
- Ishmael's descendants were just like him (Genesis 25:18), and you see hostility in a large number of Muslim nations among their tribes and ethnic groups today! Hatred of Israel is even worse!
2. "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." (Genesis 17:20)
- Ishmael was fruitful and increased his numbers (Genesis 25:13-16). Today Islam is 25% of the world's population, and growing through the highest birth rate on earth!
- Much of the Arab world has financial abundance due to oil. Unfortunately, a high percentage is used to further the cause of Islam AND terrorism
Ishmael And Abandonment (Genesis 21:8-16)
From years of counseling, we know that people often view God based on personal experience with their earthly father. So what did Ishmael experience from his father, Abraham, the "friend of God" (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23)?
- Rejection and loss of his inheritance
- Homelessness and a fear of dying
- Additionally, it is quite probable that Ishmael felt one or more of the following - bitterness, loss of identity, unworthiness and anger
Ishmael - Why His Descendants Accepted Islam
Ishmael's descendants readily embraced Islam, as it spoke to the void in their hearts left by Ishmael's experience with his father by successfully presenting these concepts:
- God is NOT a loving Father. "Love" and "Father" are missing from Allah's 99 names
- God could NEVER have a Son. To believe otherwise is an unforgivable sin
Prayer Needs
- Muslims are Ishmael's spiritual descendants, and God wants to bless them. Pray for the destruction of the spirit of Ishmael and its lies to be exposed so the blessings can come
- All of the by-products of Ishmael's experience (see above) are still being played out in Muslim hearts today. Pray the LORD would hear the heart cry of Muslims (Genesis 21:17) and open their eyes to find the well of salvation right before them in Jesus (Genesis 21:19; John 4:13-14). May the LORD heal their hearts!
- Pray the church would hear the cry of Muslims around the world. Many long for a personal relational God rather than an impersonal Allah. Jesus is their answer!
- May the LORD send laborers of the harvest who are prepared and unafraid to address the issues of God being a loving Father who sent His Son Jesus to bring eternal life, sonship and an inheritance to Muslims (Galatians 4:4-7)
We thank you for praying with us today. God is great, and He continues to do wondrous deeds toward men!
Dream so big only Jesus can make it happen!
Jay & Marsha Crenshaw
e3 Partners
Directors Muslim Outreach USA/MECANA
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