Make 2009 A Better Year

As we celebrate the new year with festivities, in another part of the world, they are observing  it with air raids, bombs, fear, and uncertainty.

Blame it not on Israel for it’s continued air raid and ground assault, neither the Hamas for the rockets fired. This conflict had it’s root from the decisions made by one man.

A look at history will help us make better and  conscious decision for 2009.

Both the Arabs and Jews look at Abraham as their father, and both are monotheist. But why are they at war with each other?

The problem goes beyond the establishment of the nation Israel on what the Palestinians claim as their land.

It goes back to the ancient times when God promised Abraham that through his seed, God will establish a great nation (Gen 15). The promise, from the Jewish perspective, becomes a reality through Isaac and Jacob. On the Arabs perspective, the promised became a reality thru Ishmael .

Both of them were correct.

Both were sons of Abraham, Ismael is the first born thru Hagar (Gen 16), and Isaac, the first born thru Sarah (Gen 21) , who is the father of  Jacob also known as Israel.  Likeiwse, another of  Isaac’s son, Esau (brother of Israel/Jacob), even married one of the daughters of Ishmael (Gen 28:8-9).

Both also received the blessing of God. Ishmael’s blessing was accounted here:  Gen 16:10-12; 21:17-18. While Isaac (and later Jacob or Israel)  blessings are accounted here: Gen 28:10-21

The middle eastern  nations are powerful and rich because God fulfilled the promise he gave to Abraham as manifested on the nations born out of Ishmael  (Arabs) and Israel (Jews).  Unfortunately, the sibling infighting was also brought about by the decisions made by Abraham (Please take time to read the story of Abraham, Genesis 16-21).

The Arabs and Jews  are brothers and the fact that  both are monotheist (worships one God) attests that they came from Abraham. Any religion who looks back to Abraham as a father or model of faith are monotheist. This includes Christians.

If we will learn from the life of Abraham, specially the consequences of decisions he made, we can make 2009 and the years to come a better year.

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