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10. Isaac (Ishaq) and Ishmael (Isma'il)

 

God gave Abraham a son in his old age. He gave him a son named Isaac, but then God did something seemingly strange. God asked for that gift back. He asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Can you imagine? But Abraham loved and trusted God so much that he knew even if he took his son's life in obedience to God, God had the power to resurrect his son back to life. But God was so good in that as Abraham followed faithfully and prepared to sacrifice his only son, God sent an angel to stop him. God sent a better sacrifice in a ram to take his place. This was pointing forward to the love of God to send His only Son in Jesus, to become the sacrifice for sin on the cross, the Lamb that was slain, a better sacrifice. Our God's love is so amazing. Let's enjoy it and understand it and believe it.

·      Read in The Qur’an – 2:127, 2:131, 2:133, 2:136, 4:163, 6:83-86, 12:38, 14:39, 37:100-113

·      Read in The Tanakh and The Bible - Genesis 16, 17:18–27, 22:1–19, 25:7-18, Chronicles 1:28-42; Matthew 1:1–2; Luke 3:34; John 1:14, 1:29–36, 3:16–21; 1 John 4:9–11; Hebrews 11:17–20

 

Readings from the Qur’an:

·      The Qur'an 2:127. “And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Isma'il (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka 'bah at Makkah), (saying), "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.”

·      Why does the Qur’an reference a story about Ishmael instead of Isaac?

·      Why do no copies of the Tanakh and the Bible (which predate the Qur’an by 2,000+ years) ever speak about the Ka’bah, Makkah (Mecca), or this story regarding Isma'il (Ishmael)?

·      Is there any evidence of any proposed corruption of the Tanakh or Bible?

·      The Qur'an 2:131 “When his Lord said to him, "Submit (i.e. be a Muslim)!" He said, "I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)."

·      When does Abraham say this in the Tanakh or Bible, which predate the Koran by 2,000+ years?

·      The Qur'an 2:133. “Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya'qub (Jacob)? When he said unto his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We shall worship your Ilah (God - Allah) the Ilah (God) of your fathers, Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il {Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), One Ilah (God), and to Him we submit (in Islam).”

·      The Qur’an 2:136 “Say (O Muslims), ‘We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob), and to Al-Asbat [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Musa (Moses) and 'Isa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam).’”

·      How often is Ishmael mentioned in the Tanakh and Bible compared with in the Qur’an? Why the difference?

·      Ishmael is mentioned 12 times in the Qur’an

·      Isaac is mentioned 15 times in the Qur’an

·      Ishmael is mentioned 44 times in the Tanakh

·      Isaac is mentioned 124 times in the Tanakh

·      Ishmael is not mentioned at all in the New Testament (Injeel).

·      Isaac is mentioned 18 times in the New Testament (Injeel)

·      Why does the Tanakh and Bible reference God as the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” in the Old Testament (Torat/Torah) and New Testament (Injeel/Gospel) over ten times? (Genesis 28:13, 31:53, Exodus 3:6,15,16, 4:5, 1 Kings 18:36, 1 Chronicles 29:18, 2 Chronicles 30:6, Matthew 22:32, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37, Acts 3:13, 7:32)

·      Why does the Tanakh and Bible never make reference to God as the “God of Ishmael”

·      The Qur'an 4:163. “Verily, We have sent the revelation to you (O Muhammad) as We sent the revelation to Nuh (Noah) and the Prophets after him; We (also) sent the revelation to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma`il (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob), and Al-Asbat [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)], 'Isa (Jesus), Ayyub (Job), Yunus (Jonah), Haran (Aaron), and Sulaiman (Solomon); and to Dawud (David) We gave the Zabur (Psalms).”

·      The Qur'an 6:83-86. “And that was Our Proof which We gave Ibrahim (Abraham) against his people. We raise whom We will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. 84. And We bestowed upon him Ishaq (Isaac) and Ya'qub (Jacob), each of them We guided, and before him, We guided Nub (Noah), and among his progeny Dawud (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Ayyub (Job), Yusuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses), and Harun (Aaron). Thus do We reward Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers - see the footnote of V .9:120). 85. And Zakariya (Zechariah), and Yahya (John) and 'Isa (Jesus) and Iliyas (Elias), each one of them was of the righteous. 86. And Isma'il {Ishmael) and Al-Yasa' (Elisha), and Yunus (Jonah) and Lut (Lot), and each one of them We preferred above the 'Alamin [mankind and jinn (of their times)].”

·      The Qur'an 14:39. “All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma'il (Ishmael) and Ishaq (Isaac). Verily! My Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.”

·      Since the Qur’an says revelation and guidance came to Isma'il (Ishmael), and through the Torat (Torah), shouldn’t Muslims know the full story of Isma'il (Ishmael), given in the Tanakh and Bible?

·      The Qur'an 12:38. "And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaq (Isaac) and Ya'qub (Jacob) and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah.

·      Why is there no reference to Ishmael (Isma’il) here?

·      The Qur’an 37:100-113 “100. "My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous." 101. So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy.  102. And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offering you in sacrifice to Allah). So look what you think!" He said: "O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Insha' Allah (if Allah wills), you shall find me of As-Sabirun (the patient)." 103. Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering); 104. We called out to him: "O Abraham! 105. You have fulfilled the dream!" Verily thus do We reward the Muhsinun (good-doers - See 2: 112). 106. Verily, that indeed was a manifest  107. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (i.e. a ram); 108. And We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among the later generations. 109. "Salam (peace) be upon Ibrahim (Abraham)!"  110. Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsinun (good-doers - See V.2: 112). 111. Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. 112. And We gave him the glad tidings of Ishaq (Isaac) - a Prophet from the righteous. 113. We blessed him and Ishaq (Isaac). And of their progeny are (some) that do right, and some that plainly wrong themselves.”

·      Where does the Qur’an describe Ishmael being offered up by Abraham instead of Isaac? Why does this passage, which is commonly taught in Islam to refer to Ishmael, not actually explicitly name Ishmael? Why does this story end with a reference to and a blessing on Isaac, if it was about Ishmael?

 

Readings from The Tanakh and The Bible: Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:17–20

·      Genesis 16 “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. [2] And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. [3] So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. [4] And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. [5] And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” [6] But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. [7] The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. [8] And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” [9] The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” [10] The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” [11] And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction. [12] He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” [13] So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” [14] Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. [15] And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. [16] Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.”

·      How does the Tanakh and Bible describe Ishmael? How does that compare with the descriptions in the Qur’an?

·      Genesis 17:18–27 “And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” [19] God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. [20] As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. [21] But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” [22] When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. [23] Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. [24] Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. [25] And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. [26] That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. [27] And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.”

·      What does Abraham ask God? How does God respond? What does God say about Ishmael? Through whom does God make the covenant for His plan of redemption? Why? What was the purpose of circumcision?

·      Matthew 1:1–2 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. [2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers…”

·      Luke 3:34 “…the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor…”

·      Were Jesus’ maternal/biological and paternal/legal lineages connected through Isaac or Ishmael? How does that fulfill God’s covenant promises?

·      Genesis 22:1–19 “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” [2] He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” [3] So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. [4] On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. [5] Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” [6] And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. [7] And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” [8] Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. [9] When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. [10] Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. [11] But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” [12] He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” [13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. [14] So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” [15] And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven [16] and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, [17] I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, [18] and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” [19] So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.”

·      Why is Isaac referred to by God as “your only son” in the Tanakh and Bible? How does that connect with Jesus being called “the only Son of God” in the Bible (see below)?

·      John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

·      John 3:16–21 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

·      1 John 4:9–11 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

·      Hebrews 11:17–20 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, [18] of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” [19] He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. [20] By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.”

·      How does Abraham’s trust in God for the sacrificial lamb and then the Lord’s provision of a ram for the sacrifice point forward to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world (see below)?

·      John 1:29–36 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! [30] This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ …[34] And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”…[35] “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, [36] and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!””

·      Genesis 25:7–11 “These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. [8] Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. [9] Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, [10] the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. [11] After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.”

·      Why does Isaac receive the blessing and not Ishmael? How does this teach us to wait on God’s plans and not to implement our own?

·      Genesis 25:12–18 “These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. [13] These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, [14] Mishma, Dumah, Massa, [15] Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. [16] These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. [17] (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) [18] They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.”

·      Does this seem to fulfill the promise of God to Abraham about Ishmael in Genesis 17:18–27?

 

See also:

“What evidence is there for Jesus and the Bible?”www.trustworthyword.com/evidence-for-jesus