Paul spoke to the Galatians of two covenants. One was of the Flesh and the other of the Promise. In explain those to the Galatians he used Ishmael’s and Isaac’s destinies as allegories to reveal the truth to the Galatians. In this commentary, those two Covenants will be contrasted.
COVENANT OF THE FLESH:
3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 And Sarai said unto Abram, “My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.” 6 But Abram said unto Sarai, “Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee.” And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, “whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?” And she said, “I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.” 9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, “Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.” 10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, “I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, “Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” 13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, “Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” 14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. (Gen 16:3-15)…
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. (Gen 17:20)
The twelve princes of Ishmael are his sons: Nebajoth, Kedar,
Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
What difference does that make to
Christians? Muhammad, the founder of Islam, is descended back to the Adani Arab
tribe which descends from either Nabat (Nebajoth) of Kedar. (Wikipedia; “Family
Tree of Muhammad”).
Since the Lord did not recognize inheritance by primogeniture
for His people, He most often chose the second living son, even since the days
of Cain and Seth. He continued that with Isaac preferred over Ishmael and Jacob
over Esaw. He also chose the second Son Jesus over His first son Adam. But that selection was for those of the Promise.
Perhaps the line of Ishmael, the “child of the flesh,” inheritance
was through the oldest. Ishmael’s genealogy is unknown for certain, but for
continuity the best bet is the first son, Nebajoth. The verb from which Nebajoth comes is ‘neba,
meaning “to prophesy or to be a spokesman.” That may be correct in God’s
naming system because Muhammad proclaimed himself the prophet of
Islam. He was the spokesman for the Arab nation — literally “desert people.” (Etymology
Online).
Isaac’s line were people of the Promise — the promise of a
land of milk and honey. In contrast Ishmael’s line was not where he was born (Canaan,
the land of milk and honey) but cast out into the desert. The kingdom of
Ishmael was in ancient Palestine, southwest of the Dead Sea and on the western
edge of the wilderness of Zin.
Now for some speculation. The Kingdom of Isaac through his son
Jacob (renamed Israel) was in Israel proper. Jews as well as the writer
believes that Israel is “in the midst” of the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:9) where
the Tree of Life stood (i.e., Jesus allegorically). Just as Adam was cast out
of the Garden, first-born son Ishmael was as well. Ishmael is symbolic of Adam,
and Isaac of Jesus, to wit: Abraham (“God”) was about to sacrifice his second
son Isaac (“Jesus”).
What was in the land of the Promise? The Holy Spirit of God.
What was at the Dead Sea? Sodom and Gomorrah, cities of the “flesh.”
All this background on Ishmael is for a reason. Paul spoke
of two covenants that God made in the Book of Galatians chapter four. Paul asked,
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal 4:16). I
ask, “Will I be your enemy because I write the truth?” What truth will I write?
Islam is the Covenant of the Flesh of which Paul spoke. Not that he was
speaking against Arabs but Jews who had become spiritual “Arabs.” How so?
Judaism, the Doctrine of the Jews is much like Islam, the Doctrine of the
Arabs. Both had abandoned the Covenant of the Promise and became covenanted
with the flesh.
Note that Ishmael was the child of the flesh because he was
conceived outside of Holy Matrimony to the bondswoman Hagar. As a descendent of
a bondswoman, Ishmael’s seed would prefer bondage. Of course, “bondage” in Christian
spiritual terms is in sin.
Ishmael’s line thereafter sought to be supreme to Isaac’s line,
and the strategy of Islam is to become the world-wide religion. According to
statisticians, based only on reproductive rates, by 2070 Islam will be the
largest religion in the world. (Rudgard, Olivia; The Telegraph, “Islam
will be largest religion in the world by 2070, says report;” March 1, 2017),
The statisticians neglected conversion of others to Islam. It is possible that
Islam will be the religion of the world by 2070. In other words, for wise
people, if they do not have Islamaphobia, better get it quickly! Islam is
faster spreading and more viral than covid-19, and rather than fear the camouflaged
Devil they fear unseen infectious agents.
Paul knew what was happening because Sarai was frustrated
with child-bearing. Her frustration and impatience led to two covenants: The Covenant
of the Flesh with Ishmael and the Covenant of the Promise with Isaac, according
to Paul’s letter to the Galatians:
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Gal 4:22-25)
The Church at Galatia were mostly Gentile Christians. Why
would Paul concern them with Arabic and Jewish Covenants? Therein lies a
mystery. Jesus is the Promise to Abraham. Faith in the Father that He would
provide a Son was the Promise. The reference was to the Promise of Abraham
Covenant; “the seed” singular, meaning Jesus. The other Covenant was of the
flesh. Abraham looked toward the Promise. He knew it was not “land” but Paradise
where his seed (plural) would stand under the Tree of Life again (his seed, singular).
Jews, in general, saw only the promised land. They
saw the land between the Sea and the Euphrates as their land. That is mostly the
fertile crescent, the most desired land in the world. Abraham saw Eden with
Israel in its midst.
Ishmaelites got the perimeter of Eden. They got the land of
Dan and Dan had to vacate it. That land had another name as well… Eden. Likewise,
Aden (aka Eden) is in modern Arabic Yemen. Geographically, the land around
ancient Israel was once Eden, and right there in the midst of it was the Garden
of Eden, or Israel. The Jordan River is Naral ha Yarden or the “River of
the Garden” (of Eden).
With that background, Galatia was once Eden as well. But
that is not the main reason. Paul feared that the Galatians would be Judaized
by intimidation from the Jews. The Jews, at that time, were acting more like
the Philistines (Palestinians). Jews were legalistic and their practice had
become a Covenant of Works, which is as well called the “Covenant of the Flesh.”
Why so? “Flesh” are the people. It is things people do for salvation. Rather
than depend on the Promise, by then a Reality, the Jews still depended on the
works of the Law and things they do for salvation.
Islam is a religion of works. It is the things Muhammadans
do for Paradise, and their idea of “Paradise” is a reward of 72 virgins.
It is the religion of the flesh. By the time of Jesus, Jews had discarded
polygamy because that was commanded. Islam allows polygamy and is hence the Doctrine
of the Flesh. Now analyze the Covenant
of the Flesh above.
First off, Sarai “pimped” her bondservant Hagar for her to
have children. She depended on herself rather than God, and Abraham went along
with it. Abraham essentially enjoyed a “prostitute,” not that Hagar truly was,
but they used her flesh for their benefit. Ishmael was a child of the flesh and
Arabia were the twelve nations of the Flesh, and Sodom and Gomorrah, cities of
the flesh.
Once the dirty deed was done, Hagar knew that she had been “pimped”
and despised Sarai. To this day, Islam has great antipathy for the children of
the Promise (Jews and Christians) as Hagar did for Sarai. Muhammadans despise
Jews and Christians and have since Saria sold Hagar’s flesh for a child that
she could not have herself.
What was her alternative? To depend on God, and not her own
devices. Ishmael was a child of the flesh in the sense that he was born of a woman
who served as a vessel, and also in the sense that it was by Sarai’s and Abraham’s
works, and not by God’s!
Hagar asked that the Lord judge between Sarai and her. God
chose Sarai but did not forget Hagar. There were two covenants established each
with twelve tribes: Ishmael had twelve sons who became twelve nations and Israel
did as well. In that situation, God used Abraham’s first “seed” for the
Covenant of the Flesh, and for the Covenant of the Promise, the second “seed,”
Jacob’s children. God seems to have had a
Plan that was predictable!
God told Hagar to “submit thyself under her (Sarai’s) hands.”
That itself fulfilled a previous promise. Hagar was an Egyptian. Hence, Ishmael
was half “pagan” and half Jewish. Egyptians were Cushites and descended from
Ham. The promise? “And He said, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan
shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the
tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant’” (Gen 9:26-27).
Paul surely remembered those passages as he spoke to the
Galatians because that prophecy was in the process of being fulfilled in
Galatia! The “tent of Shem” was the Jewish Church and Japhethites (Galatians)
were accepted as part of the Church. Likewise, Hagar and Ishmael, the seed of
Canaan, was told to serve Shemites, Abraham and Sarah. Throughout history,
Arabs of all tribes have served Jews until they tired of it, then there was
war!
Islam means “submission” (to Allah) and Hagar was
told by Yahweh to submit to Sarai. Ishmaelites never submitted as they
were told to. Then just who is Allah? He is the “god of the flesh” whose
covenant is of the flesh. Rather than Ishmaelites as servants of Israel, by the
time of Paul, the Israelites had become servants of Ishmael. Paul feared the
syncretic combination of two doctrines: the Doctrine of Works with the Covenant
of the Flesh, and the Doctrine of Grace with the Covenant of the Promise. The
Galatians were at a crossroads; would they be Ishmaelites or would they be
Israelites?
Six hundred or so years later, that would be answered.
Muhammad, directed by the false god, Allah, conquered all of “Eden”
slowly but surely. Soon the entire previously Roman Empire was about to be conquered
by a bunch of Arabic “camel pirates” descended from Ishmael. The seed of Ishmael
and Canaan were tired or serving Shemites and Japhethites and altered the two
religions and added paganism (more flesh) to serve their false “god.” Rather than
serve the Lord Yahweh, the People of the Book chose to serve the Lord of
the Flesh, Allah. Allah is Baal… Allah is Beelzebub, Lord
of the Flies (think camels).
Christianity is the Doctrine of Love and Judaism the Promise
of that Doctrine. The mantra is that “Islam is a peaceful religion,” but He is
Jesus who brings Peace. Islam is a religion of war, and Arabs are by nature a
warring people. Historically, Palestinians have endeavored to cleanse the Promise
Land from “filthy Jews” and their goal is to wipe Israel and Yahweh from
the face of the earth and the minds of the people. With that goal, the government
of the Apocalypse will be Ishmaelism, and specifically Islam.
“Ishmael” means “El has hearkened.” God is most often
called Elohim but El most often refers to the singular “Baal.”
Ironically, Elohim is plural and refers to one God and El is singular, but Baal
is many and any “god.”
Christianity is the worship of one God in three “persons”
and Islam the worship of many “gods” in one “person.” Because the doctrine of
Islam is works, that makes each adherent a “god” serving Allah. Allah is
the “Serpent” and Muhammad Judas Iscariot incarnated who had Satan in him. The
root verb for Iscariot is the same root verb as the Qu’ran and the number
of the Qu’ran, according to some Muslims is “666.”
Satan entered the Serpent, he entered Judas, and he will enter
the Antichrist. By their own admission, Muhammad was not the Christ, so rather
than Satan in him, he surely had demon angels giving him visions. Muhammad is
not the Antichrist and neither is the Pope. Soon, if not already, an Islamic man
will have Satan enter him and become the Antichrist. At that time, the prophecy
of Muhammad will be fulfilled, and the end of serving Shem and Japheth will
end, and the two faiths will either serve Allah or be beheaded.
The Lord described Islam and Muhammad well, and also the
Antichrist: “He (Ishmael) will be a wild man; his hand will be against every
man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of
all his brethren.” Ishmael’s seed will dwell in the presence of Isaac’s seed,
and that they have and with Islam, still do!
Ishmael will be a “wild man.” Muhammad was that person! One
bride was a pre-teen girl and his methods were much different. He proselytized with
the sword. He converted camel caravans with the sword of Allah. Jesus
converts with the “sword of the Word” (Eph 6:17). The word of Islam beheads as
the Antichrist will do. The Sword of the Lord is the Holy Ghost who protects
and preserves. Islam is a religion of vengeance for Hagar and Christianity a
religion of Peace in Christ.
Which way will the Galatians go? They were of the line of
Japheth and should be Christians. John 3:16 indicates that they “should
not perish.” Which way would they go; perish with the whore Babylon (the Jews)
or preserved by the “Star”
New Jerusalem? New Jerusalem may be the harlot Babylon cleansed
and presented to the Lord. New Jerusalem is “Sarai” with her new name, “Sarah.”
New Jerusalem is Hagar’s vindication for she was wronged. As disciples of the
flesh, some Muslims are included in the “whosoever” of John 3:16. When the Antichrist
is put down, Islam will be defeated and Hagar will be restored to her faithful
position of serving the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
Tomorrow, the Covenant of the Promise will be examined.
(picture credit: Pinterest "Hagar and Sarah")
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