08/14/2026
Historically and biblically, Ishmael indeed grew into the mighty nations God promised he would; his descendants from a variety of tribes create the Arab world as we know it today.
In many ways, you can trace the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict back to the torn tents of Abraham, severed by covenant.
Abraham asked God that Ishmael might “live before Him” [GEN 17:18]. God replied, “No,” but that the boy would indeed become great nations. The Almighty’s interactions with Hagar as she fled for her and Ishmael’s lives—once by choice and once by banishing—are beautiful encounters to ponder [see GEN 16 & 21].
As an Arabian merchant began to build what is now a momentous death cult based on his demonic encounters six centuries after the Ascension of Jesus, Muhammad needed credibility. Thus Islamic tradition (most notably codified by Ibn Ishaq in the 8th century) compiled a lineage tracing Muhammad directly to Ishmael. This is neither proven nor historically documented, but it’s a moot point. Muslim conquest has ensured that nearly all Ishmael’s sons are born into the shackles of Islam.
The West is facing an unprecedented collision with this deluded ideology. While we believe national leaders have a mandate before God to serve their countries and protect its citizens, we also recognize the “people of the Cross” have a mandate to demonstrate the Cross. And we remain committed to the “Great Commission” of the saints—which necessitates we serve the Muslim world with a faithful witness of Jesus and His Gospel of the Kingdom. We do not have a right to avoid this people group as the Church so long has——and the LORD will no longer let us try. And moreover, Isaiah saw the Gospel move like a tidal wave across the Arab world——just before the LORD returns [see ISA 42:10-13].
To help us all gain wisdom and understanding on the nature of Islam and its sacred texts, Islamic scholar and veteran missionary Dan Wickwire has launched a new series based on his book ‘200 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BIBLE AND THE QUR’AN.’ It is not for the faint of heart, but we invite you to begin going through each question with us here at THE EMMAUS TABLE. All 200 questions are available now in our app, with
