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Hagar at the Well the Conversion of Islam
by Wade Nye John 4:7 And Jacob's well was there. So Jesus being wearied from his journey, was sitting thus by the well. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." Genesis 24:45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart behold, Rebecca came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, "Please let me drink." Genesis 29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. Exodus 2:15-16 But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came to draw water. I have recently been emboldened to put to paper things the Lord has been showing me for sometime. It is a prophetic allegory showing the woman at the well in John 4 representing the preaching of the gospel not to Islam by Christians but being revealed within the structure of Islam directly by Christ. In the prophetic sense of the scripture this unnamed woman applies to a spiritual(in this case an unspiritual) Hagar representing the Islamic religion. Never in Christianity has an entire world religion (established AD) been redeemed, regenerated and joined to Christ.The old will be gone and the new will come she will be a new creation. Because of Islam's strong sense of community,the gospel needs to be accepted corporately. Literally millions of believers will be converted. Baptisms will have to go on for hours printing presses that now print the Quran will be working around the clock to print the Bible. This outpouring will begin with Sunni Arabic Muslims and spread outward.Mohammed stated that he came to the revelation that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the only true God. It is an important note that Mohammed as an Arab was a descendant of Ishmael. Ishmael never surrendered his rights as firstborn as Esau did. Although Isaac was the chosen one.God would never break his own law Ishmael has many legal rights as firstborn.One of his main rights is redemption. I fully accept that this scripture in John is outwardly demonstrating God's love and forgiveness for even the unwanted of society. This is the most common view of this story. However, I also believe that the Holy Spirit has added an underlying prophetic richness to this passage. The scriptures in Genesis and Exodus tell us that a woman and a man at the well is a common Mosaic theme. It is not a coincidence that Jesus met this woman at the well. The Holy Spirit speaking through John highlighted this common theme. The theme in every one of these stories is a union between a man and a woman. Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, Moses and Zipporah. The passage in John is amazingly enough prophetically speaking of Christ's future dealings & speaking with Islam directly. If she accepts what he says she will be redeemed and taken as his chosen vessel the church. A spiritual union so to speak. Not replacing the already existing church but adding her to his body. Christ did not replace his disciples after the incident at the well. He merely we assume counted the woman also as his disciple since she was used to lead others to Him. Ephesians 4:25,32 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her,/This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Galatians 4:25-26 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; She is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. These passages are very helpful. First we learn that it is permissible to speak of scripture as prophetic allegory. Especially when the allegory pertains to women. Second we learn that as a bride the church is spoken of in the feminine gender. This passage clearly shows that what Moses wrote in Genesis about the conflict between 2 women was allegorized & interpreted by Paul in his writings in Galatians. This allegory had to do with the conflict between the followers of 2 covenants. As we study these passages we see that there are referenced geographic hotspots to this conflict. According to Paul these hotspots of old covenant contention are Arabia and Jerusalem. We know that the center of Islam is Mecca and Medina both in Saudi Arabia. Another important site is the Temple mount in Jerusalem known as the Dome of the Rock. Also, Jerusalem is an important site for another group who follow an earthly covenant, namely the Jews. These passages say that a woman can represent not only the true church that follows the true God, but also could be a woman allegorized as an earthly gathering that follows a wide road that leads only to bondage. John 4:4-6 And he had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from his journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was the sixth hour. Samaritans were a mixture of Jews and Gentiles. A type of half breed. The Jews considered them spiritually blind and unclean. The Samaritans in Christ's time were rejected for being half chosen.Muslims are held in a similar position by both Christians and Jews. Islam is a religion based on the Old Testament. Many Hebrew type traditions are legalistically adhered to. Such as not eating pork or non-kosher food(Called Hal-al). But added to these are other traditions that 5 tenants(called pillars) established by Mohammed it's prophet. These pillars have to do with(not in this order) 1.Confessing that there is one true God (Called Allah) 2. Prayer,3. Fasting 4. Giving to the poor and 5.Traveling to certain holy places(especially Mecca) to worship God. Islam as a religion and it's Holy Book the Koran are based on. 1.The belief that righteousness & holiness is possible through obedience to the Law,manmade traditions and works. 2.The written thoughts and ideas of Mohammed and his followers 3.The Books and Laws of Moses(The Tawrat) 4.Rejection of parts of the Tawrat because of rivalry and bitterness at God's dealings with the Jews. 5.The New Testament(The Injil) 6.Rejection of parts of the Injil that do not make sense to the fallen intelligence of man.Especially accepting the cross as a victory and that God could have a son. Islam can be at times a religion of conflict because the holy books of the Jews and the Christians are considered Holy and worthy to be read, yet at the same time these books are said to be contaminated by the Jews and followers of Christ. So the Muslim Arabs reject and are (in many ways) rejected by both Christians and Jews. This even though they are distant kinsman and physical neighbors to the Jews and hold many of there religious traditions. Also by many Christians. Despite accepting many of Jesus' teachings and believing that Jesus is in heaven and is coming back to defeat Satan. Islam's rejection of Christ as the son of God and Christ's death on the cross are impossible barriers to calling one a follower of Christ. By the mention of Joseph and Jacob in John 4 we are reminded of relations between the Samaritans and the Jews. They had a common ancestor. Although the Samaritans had been intermarried with the Gentiles they still held all the Jewish laws and claimed all of God's promises given through Moses. Arab Muslims hold themselves in a similar status. They also have a common ancestor with the Jews. Although Jacob's well is mentioned in John's Gospel no mention of it is made in the Old Testament. But by this reference to Jacob, John ties into the common OT theme of union between a man and a woman at a well. Jacob was a participant in one of these OT stories at a well(Genesis 29-1-12). The well where Jacob met Rachel, however, was in Chaldea (modern Iraq) hundreds of miles from the well in Samaria. In the story of Jacob at the well Rachel is said to be a shepherdess. In the allegory(Genesis 29) Rachel prior to her marriage to Jacob could be called a type of Islamic flock. In a visible way Islam excedes many American Churches. They emphasize "keeping the flock together" and prayer. Recently I visited Egypt acting as a consultant to a small factory 70 miles outside of Cairo. I spent a few days at the factory, mostly in the president's office. While there I witnessed the rigorous Muslim prayer schedule. Although Christ and the Holy Spirit are probably absent.I was shamed by the amount of time during the day that Muslims spent in prayer and contemplation of God. I noticed something else. As some factory workers would grow lax in prayer, others would exhort them to obedience. Although the NT teaches us as Christians to do this with each other it is very much missing from the American church. Many are fearful of angering others and pointing out their weakness. The tie in to Jacob's well in Genesis 29 is undeniable. In this story of Jacob at the well in Chaldea Jacob saw his "bride to be" his "long lost relative" and their flocks coming to the well. Because of the traditions of the land his relatives' flock were to be withheld from a well that by rights belonged to them. Before the usual time of watering the flocks, Jacob rolled aside the large rock obstructing access to the well. He wept and kissed his future wife as he watered her sheep. It seems that this rock was rolled away at the same hour of the day that the Samaritan woman referred to in John came to the well. The time is close at hand for Christ to water the house of Ishmael. Even now these flocks are thirsty and Christ will roll the stone away early for them.( Actually allegorically speaking He is the rock that gives up the living water) The flocks of Ishmael are related through Abraham. Thus Christ will water them himself. Christ will give them the water from the well that springs to eternal life. Matthew 9:36-35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. John 4:7 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her "Give me a drink." With the words give me a drink Christ calls and tests Hagar for readiness to serve and have union with Him.Like the test that Abraham's servant gave Rebecca.Even though the woman doesn't comply her seeking will bring her to find the truth. Jesus told the disciples "Follow me"They left everything and followed. This woman was only asked for a drink of water.Christ's request was met with questioning. But instead of disengaging Hagar(Islam) Christ continues to teach through the Holy Spirit, the Tawrat(OT) maybe even through parts of the Koran that are based on scripture. Through these teachings Christ develops a spiritual thirst within Islam. But this thirst is not for an earthly covenant that leads to death but for a heavenly covenant that leads to life. It appears that within the Arab community of Islam there is a large group of people constantly striving to be obedient to God and to know who God is. But Hagar's relationship with God is based on the weariness of works and obedience to works they constantly come to the well of the law of Moses. Yet this well of truth only brings earthly satisfaction. In seeking the law and obedience to the law, they are constantly weary,weighed down and frustrated with their lives. The law of Moses is the closest component within Islam to the truth. Truth seekers return to it day after day to keep from dehydration. The law of deeds does indeed bring a temporary type of spiritual existence. John 4:8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. This is clearly a rebuke for the church during Christ's dealings with Hagar (Islam). This may be the current church.. Clearly since the disciples have left Jesus' side to go to the city to search for food they have chosen the path of Martha and not Mary. Going to the city is not a good allegorical statement since Lot went to the city after separating from Abraham. Also they left Jesus without serving him. Since Jesus was not given what he required (water) it showed a lack of communication. Assumptions were made without asking. The church is found with insufficient prayer to seek Jesus' will and direction. John 4:9 Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?"(For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans) Jesus was sitting on the well when the Samaritan woman came for water. All of the Law of Moses and the Prophets testify about Jesus. As these followers of Islam come to the well of the obeying the law the Holy Spirit will begin to testify and reveal Jesus as the Way,the Truth and the Life. Yet true to the stubborn and contentious nature of Ishmael (Genesis 16:12) instead of serving Christ the past is brought up. Arabic Muslims who see the testimony of Jesus within the law and even by supernatural revelations will stumble: 1. Because the dislike of Arabs,Muslims by Christians. 2. Possibly Christian teachings that Muslims are unredeemable will be circulated within Islam and will be offensive. 3. Stumbling over the Jewish ancestry of Christ Jesus. 4. A belief by Muslims that Christ cannot have dealings with them because they are outside of the Christian church as we term it. 5. Just plain unbelief that traditional earthly obstacles (the whole Islamic tradition), could be overcome by Christ. 6. Wars ongoing or past with Christian nations(or Israel) during the time of this revelation. John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" It is so hard for Islam to believe that God's gift of eternal life is a free gift. It goes against everything that Islam, Judism and all other OT systems teach. That is to be good and obey and you will make heaven. It is works first then reward. In Christ it is free to receive eternal life. Then God through his Holy Spirit will guide and empower you. The progression then becomes free gift, reward, obedience, works, and added reward. John 4:11 She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; Where then do You get that "living water" What Christ has said to this woman is leading her to question her whole way of life. All of her life she has gone to a well to sustain herself and her family using an earthen vessel. In the same way when Christ begins to expose Islam to the truth, people within Islam will begin to question the earthly structure of Islam and its lack of true spirituality. The questioning indicates a breakdown of her core beliefs). Remember when being introduced to Christ Nathaniel questioned him.This questioning brought Nathaniel very quickly to the truth that he sought so fervently. The questions the woman is asking are an indication that core beliefs were being shaken. In order to embrace Christ Hagar has to abandon her earthen vessel of the manmade religious structure of Islam. To us it seems easy but to a Muslim Islam is very substantial. Working hard and sacrificing to acheive redemption from God makes sense to a religious mind especially one that is beaten by guilt and shame. Most people are suspicious of that which is a free gift. What following Christ offers is spiritual and seemingly insubstantial to one who does not believe. In this passage the woman sees Christ as one that has little to offer her. Islam has a very powerful structure and community. What Christ is seeking is love. This is a difficult concept for a Muslim to grasp. John 4:12 "You are not greater than our father Jacob, are you, who gave us this well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?" As Christ begins to reveal the impossibility of obeying the law.A serious study of the powerful truths of the Tawrat (Books and laws of Moses) will take place. The more Islam studies the word of God the more that it will testify as to how badly they need to be saved.But the stumbling block of how Christ could be greater than the law will be asked. In doing this Arabs will begin through the word of God to embrace the connection to their kinsman in Isreal. This is a needed step before being able to accept Christ. Forgiveness and letting go of hatred and bitterness are necessary steps. Many earthly promises and blessings are tied to all of Abraham's children by birthright. Here we see the reluctance of Islam to depart from the old covenant of works.How can Christ overcome what the what the Jewish law teaches about obedience.Yet they see it is impossible to fully obey the law. This is stuggle a vicious circle with only one escape . One of the largest statements of the Old Testament is our God is One. To a Muslim it is impossible to believe in Christ as the begotten son of God. This is because in their reading of scripture God cannot have a son and God cannot be 3 persons (in 1). John 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; Christ begins to again shake the confidence in the law of righteous works he has come to fulfill the law. The law is a temporary earthly measure. It only provides exposure to the fact that it is impossible to please God by attempts to obey it. Again after shaking the vessel of Islam he is developing a thirst within her for the Truth. He is preparing her to be a vessel. John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." A thirst is building up within Islam for the Truth. I am sure at this point a study of the Injil(Gospels of the NT) probably develops. After an impartation of wisdom from Christ, Muslim scholars or maybe studious laity will begin to see that the Injil is the Truth. The truth will always lead one to Christ because Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life. John 4:15 The woman said to him "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw." The truth points to Christ as the Way out of her life of weariness.The drudgery and hopelessness of the law leads to a life of desperation.This is the cause of so much of Muslim's desperate ways. Many times death is the only way to be with God.The Holy Spirit will testify to Jesus as savior. The system of trying to know God through obedience and works wears Hagar out day after day.The reward of freedom and escape is appealing. But they stumble at the cross.They want to add Jesus on to Islam. But Jesus does not just want to be the savior of the Muslims he wants them to accept him as Messiah, Lord and God. They are driven by thirst even though their stubbornness cannot see victory in a cross. John 4:16-18 He said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here" The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have correctly said, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly. Jesus is alive. Mohammed is not a living prophet he is merely a man who is now dead. The Koran testifies that Jesus is alive and will return in the end times. A strong revelation of this truth that Jesus is alive will occur. In this verse Jesus does not say go call your husband and bring him to me. He says go call your husband and then you come to me. The woman has to confess that she has no husband. There will be a strong revelation of the powerlessness of the dead prophet Mohammed. Islam must acknowledge that they cannot bring back Mohammed because he is gone. Islam will concede that Mohammed cannot be put on the same spiritual level as Jesus. Mohammed is an ordinary man that has died. Even in the Koran Jesus is still living and he will return to earth to defeat evil. Mohammed will not be coming back. Jesus points out that by Islam's obedience to his (Mohammed's) teachings he has given her 5 additional covenants. These are the five pillars of Islam. Hagar(Islam) has promised the obey all of these covenants yet she will see that she has broken them. A pillar is a structure that unifies two structures into one. A marriage is a covenant unifying two into one. A pillar ties a foundation into a roof thus making a building. When Samson wanted to bring down the pagan temple of the Philistines he pulled down the pillars. When he brought down the pillars the whole structure fell. The bringing down of Islam's pillars will destroy the whole religious structure. Lately much press has been given to Islamic scholars that are teaching that a sixth pillar of Islam exists. This pillar is "Jihad". Mohammed did not teach Jihad as a pillar. From this passage we learn a few things. If any number represents Islam it is the number 5. It represents the 5 chains that hold Islam from knowing who is the true God. The beauty of this is that the number 5 also represents God's grace and the church. In a powerful way Islam will be set free from her bondage and be transformed into the bride of Christ, the church. 1. Arabic Sunni Muslims are spoken of here because Shiite Muslims do not adhere to the 5 pillars. 2. Islam is embracing a false religious commitment to war. So during the time of Christ's dealings Islam is involved in wars or warlike behavior. John 4:19 The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. In some (possibly supernatural) way Mohammed, the five pillars and the sixth illegitimate pillar(Jihad) will be revealed as false precepts . Muslims will then embrace Jesus as a prophet greater than Mohammed. John 4:20 "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." This verse has three themes common ancestors, worship at the sacred mountain, and Jerusalem and thus makes a connection with Galations 4:25-27. Galatians speaks of Mt. Sinai in Arabia corresponding with Jerusalem. With this connection we know clearly we are speaking about Hagar and thus Ishmael. As we mentioned before, Islam is strongly based on Mosaic Law. This means that like Israel Islam is also in bondage. A stumbling block to Islam following the Christ and the Injil (Gospels) has to do with the Jews being chosen above all other peoples. The Arabic people have always had feelings of inferiority in dealing with the Jews. Some Christians fall into this category also. Especially when they read passages dealing with God's favor upon the Jews. In both cases this inferiority is expressed not in what we would call normal ways. Bitterness, anger, hatred, prejudice and are how these feelings are expressed. This passage may also be dealing with the problem of the holy places in Arabia and Jerusalem. Travel to holy sites is one of the pillars of Islam. It is also the reason that the temple mount which Islam calls the "dome of the rock" is so securely guarded. John 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. Christ was speaking prophetically to the woman speaking of the curtain that will be torn upon his death. But Christ is also speaking prophetically to us today. He is telling us that soon Islam and Israel will follow Jesus. Since Christ repeatedly used the mountain theme we should be more attentive to its meaning .The Samaritans worshipped God upon Mt. Gerazim. This is the mountain from which God commanded Joshua to prounouce the blessings upon the Israelites for obedience to the law. Mt. Ebal was the mountain chosen as the mountain from which to pronounce the curses upon the Israelites who disobey the law. Yet God strangely told the Israelites to worship him not on the Mount of blessing but upon the Mount of curses. Joshua later obeyed and worshiped upon Mt. Ebal. This was fitting since Ebal was the higher peak. The Samaritans appear to have stumbled and disobeyed the word of God. They decided that it seemed wiser to worship where God blessed his people. Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us-for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. Yet the salvation came not through the blessings of the law but through the curse of the law. Christ became a curse for us. Those who try to worship God by obeying the law ie. the ten commandments are not blessed but cursed because no one can obey the law. No one who worships God by obedience to the law is a true worshipper. In a similar way Islam today stumbles at the cross. They cannot see how the death of the prophet Jesus could be a blessing to them. They reject the victory of the cross and embrace a lie that God removed Jesus from the cross just before his death and replaced him with a shell of flesh. To them it is not possible that death could lead to victory. Truly Mt. Sinai and Jerusalem do correspond and testify to each other that they are both cursed until the day when they embrace the cross as a victory. In examination of John 4:20-21 a curious phrase appears both the woman and Jesus speak of the Samaritans worshipping not upon Mt. Gerazim but IN the mountain. The Samaritans did not have a cave in the mountain where they worshipped God. Worshiping in a mountain cannot be taken as a positive. The temptation is to state that the scripture is speaking prophetically of Mohammed spending days within a cave at Mt. Hira receiving the Koran. But a scriptural examination is called for. In scripture Elijah, who came fresh from a huge victory, had a setback and became embittered with God's plans. God chose to allow Jezebel to continue persecuting Elijah a folower of the true God. Instead of pursuing the Lord's will he fled to where Moses received the law. Elijah hid in a cave in the mountain. He questioned God so he fled from the spiritual truth to the physical. What was begun in the spirit retreated into the physical. This what is called the Galatians' error. Hiding from the living Christ in Mosaic legalism. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and many other cult churches have fallen into the same error. They are movements that have entered into the cave in Sinai. By Christ saying IN the mountain in agreement with the woman, Islam's beginnings must have begun as a call to the truth. We know this because whoever wrote the Koran had the New Testament in one hand and the pen in the other. Yet because the person who wrote the Koran could not accept or were offended by the difficult teachings of Christ they themselves fled to the dark cave in Mt. Sinai. In doing this they lead millions astray to hide in the cave with them. God prompted Elijah to leave the cave. Elijah did leave the cave and returned to the will of God. God is calling Islam out of the cave of the law and works. God is calling them to truly knowing Him. John 4:23-24 "But an hour is coming, and now is when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for such people the Father seeks to be his worshipers. God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Islam will be called to true worship. She will have to leave her bondage to geography in Arabia (Mecca) or Jerusalem. Her true spiritual worship will have no dependence on geography. Many conflicts that are broiling because of geography will be left to the side. Since Muslims will no longer hold so many lands and sites sacred many border conflicts with Israel and the west will end. John 4:25-26 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He" Islam already teaches that Jesus is returning to defeat Satan. They look forward to the Messiah Christ, the one that will save them from Satan. Christ brings to a powerful reality not only that he will be returning to be the Messiah but that HE LIVES! He is with them and among them right now.At this point all of the Arab Muslims almost at one time will accept Christ as Lord,Savior and the Messiah they have been waiting for. John 4:27 At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, "What do You seek?" Or, "Why do you speak to her?" The Christian church will stand back and do nothing. They will have no good contribution (and it seems no bad) to Hagar's (Islam's) redemption. The church will be stunned as to why Christ will speak to and redeem an anti-Christian religious group. But the followers of Christ do not even ask what would be considered the normal questions of Islam or of Christ. John 4:28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men. Hagar will abandon her earthen vessel. She is now a living vessel her eyes have been opened she can see the Messiah who is the true well of living water. The Muslim system will be abandoned. No more trips to Mecca and no more Koran. They will be replaced by freedom in the Holy Spirit and a relationship with Jesus Christ the Messiah. No longer is she burdened with a heavy bondage to an earthen system but she herself is a vessel of God's will and spirit. Islam will be made a new creation. This new creation will have evangelistic zeal unseen in western churches. The disciples went into the city to seek food for themselves.The church is seeks to build a ministry for themselves.Hagar will seek true food.She does the will of Christ.This food will sustain her.With the life giving water she will never thirst again.When Hagar went into the city she sought to bring men out of the city to Jesus. John 4:29-30 "Come, see a man "who told me all the things I have done; This is not the Christ is it?" They went out of the city, and were coming to Him. Just as going into the city is bad symbolically, so coming out of the city and coming to see Jesus is a wonderful event. Hagar is giving the nations a drink but this drink is of the living water. John 4:42 and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the savior of the world. John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease." Unlike the disciples who argued about who was the greatest, this woman faded into the background .Her deeds brought her no earthly gain. Yet she and her deeds live in eternity and are recorded as the word of God. Hagar will fade but the fruit will continue. Her redemption and knowledge of the truth will be what will lead millions to the Lord. Islam, the religion that held the Arabic community together as one will merge as one into the body of Christ. Abagail David's faithful wife was delivered from the household of Nabal she brought grace peace and stability to the family of David yet after her being brought into the king's family she was never heard from again. Jesus the son of David will hold this church in similar stance. Probably this is a needed step since it would not be pleasing to Christ to have a church divided between east and west as in times past. These are the things the Lord has shown me concerning this theme. I leave it up to others to preach, teach or write on these matters. As to the timing of these things I don't have a clue. The Lord reveals truth like this as the timing is close at hand. But the Lord may consider fifty years to be close at hand. The way things appear now the religion of Islam is firmly rooted and it is a wall that doesn't seem to have even a crack in it. But these things are confirmed in his word so they will come to pass in his time Even though Ishmael was not the child of promise as Isaac was, he is the firstborn of Abraham and many legal rights still belong to him. God adheres to every law he has established. Genesis 21:19 Then God opened (Hagar's) eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave (Ishmael) a drink. Genesis 16:12 (Speaking of Ishmael) He will be a wild donkey of a man,His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him;And he will live to the east of all his brothers." Exodus 34:20 You shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck, You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None shall appear before me empty- handed. Wade Nye [email protected] W.M. Nye Sunday School Teacher & son of Missionary/Pastor [email protected] Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |