Question:  Dear Greg,

            I was wondering if your could give me a history lesson.  For years I have been aware that the war between Israel and Palestine concerns land.  I recently learned that this feud began back during the time of Abraham because Abraham disobeyed God by going to a different city or country.  What I would like to know is:

1.      Are the people of Israel today descendants from the biblical Israelites?

2.      Are modern-day Israelites and Palestinians Christians?

3.      Does this present-day feud between them have any significance in the Bible?

4.      Is the feud over a piece of land?

Thanks, Greg, for your input.

            Angie

Answer:  Dear Angie,

            The “feud” between the Arab people and the Jewish people goes back to Abraham.  Abram—he was known initially, was the father of both Issac and Ishmael.  Ishmael was his firstborn son, not from his wife Sarah, but from her maidservant, Hagar—who was Egyptian.  Sarah was unable to bear children, and it was at her suggestion that Abram had a child through Hagar (you can read this story in Genesis 16).

            However, Sarah’s opinion of Hagar changed when Hagar became pregnant—something Sarah wished for.  Sarah became envious, and despised Hagar—causing Hagar to run away because of Sarah’s “mistreatment”.

            God later performed a miracle when Sarah and Abram were old, and they had a son, Isaac.

            Arab people—many of whom are Muslim, see Abram as a man of God, their father in the faith, through Ishmael.  The Jews trace their ancestry to Abram through Isaac and his son Jacob (who was also known by the name, Israel).

            The Palestinians in Israel today are no doubt related, in some way, to Ishmael.  The Jews in Israel today are no doubt related, in some way, to Isaac.  However, it is more complex than that.  There are many other Arabs in other places—and it used to be true—I believe still is—that there are more Jews in New York City than there are in all of present-day Israel.

            As to Christianity—I believe that more of the Palestinians are Christian than the Jews in Israel, but neither group of people has a significant percentage of Christians.

            The feud is over land—but it is also over religion—and it is a long-term animosity, with much history.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht