Tuesday, January 27, 2009

More than a millenia

In praying ...thy will be done on Earth..., I remember God's promise to Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:3, New Living Translation)

Mohammed accepted Jews and Christians as people of the book. Jews and Christians trace their spiritual roots to Abraham through Isaac. Muslims trace their spiritual roots to Ishmael, Abraham's first born.

For more than a millenia, Christians and Muslims have often had difficulties with each other. (Can you say euphemism?) For less than 200 years, Jews and Muslims have had difficulties.

However, I suspect that God has not forgotten that all the families of the earth will be blessed through Abraham.

For now, I will remember Genesis 25 (KJV),

8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; 10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

May peace be upon us all!