Why did God bless and set the Ishmaelites in their own land as a people who would always be against Israel? Why did God give the Arabs the oil?
1. Sinners need an ANTAGONIST to get their attention and bring them to God.
2. Spiritual warfare—God has allowed and given certain power to the adversary and his people. The great question is WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO RULE? There is a choice for all, and appearances are that the world’s people are winning.
3. The blessing of God on the Arabs is as a consequence of Abraham’s unbelief, lies, adultery, etc. God completely forgave him, but the consequences remain until Christ comes back.
4. Galatians 4:22-31 tells us that today’s events are a prolongation of the struggle that went on in the home of Abraham. Paul wrote that it is all about the FLESH vs. the SPIRIT. Ishmael was born according to the desires of Abraham’s flesh, but Isaac was born according to the promise of God. “Ishmael, the child of the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.” (Gal.4:29)
