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jay santos · 03-28-2006, 04:12 PM

Preparing for my primary class I read a verse that I don't remember being discussed much, though I'm definitely not a scriptorian.

Sarah is bent that Abraham is giving attention to his son Ishmael and forces Hagar and Ishmael out (first sign that polygamy doesn't work?). God speaks to Hagar:

Genesis 21:18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine
hand; for I will make him a great nation.

How do Christians, Jews, and Mormons interpret this scripture? Is it possible that God is referring to the nation of Islam here? Is so, that opens a real interesting discussion...

Goatnapper'96 · 03-28-2006, 04:28 PM

I had the same opinion about polygamy as you did when reading that passage.

As for the great nation, I think the Christian and or Mormon interpretation of that is that many of the Arab nations, which eventually converted to Islam, became great. Certainly some cultural shortcomings and how those shortcomings interacted with Islam created some pervasive ignorance that is still a huge threat, but initially that was not the case. Apostacy always seems to get worse with time.

However, when one recognizes that the Children of Israel wandered 40 years out there and settled on the only piece that does not seem to have immense crude oil deposits beneath the crust, one can see how the Lord blessed the descendents of Ishmael and how he was the father of mighty nations. Didn't Ishmael have 12 princes for sons?

Perhaps he will get 144 big ums waiting for him in heaven as well. Isn't it interesting how all these heavenly inspired numbers, such as 72, 144 and uhhhhhh two can work together in harmony?

SteelBlue · 03-28-2006, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay santos

How do Christians, Jews, and Mormons interpret this scripture? Is it possible that God is referring to the nation of Islam here? Is so, that opens a real interesting discussion...

I've always thought it referred Islam.

03-28-2006, 04:12 PM	#1
jay santos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,177	Ishmael Preparing for my primary class I read a verse that I don't remember being discussed much, though I'm definitely not a scriptorian. Sarah is bent that Abraham is giving attention to his son Ishmael and forces Hagar and Ishmael out (first sign that polygamy doesn't work?). God speaks to Hagar: Genesis 21:18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. How do Christians, Jews, and Mormons interpret this scripture? Is it possible that God is referring to the nation of Islam here? Is so, that opens a real interesting discussion...

03-28-2006, 04:28 PM	#2
Goatnapper'96 Recruiting Coordinator/Bosom Inspector Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,412	Good post Jay.... I had the same opinion about polygamy as you did when reading that passage. As for the great nation, I think the Christian and or Mormon interpretation of that is that many of the Arab nations, which eventually converted to Islam, became great. Certainly some cultural shortcomings and how those shortcomings interacted with Islam created some pervasive ignorance that is still a huge threat, but initially that was not the case. Apostacy always seems to get worse with time. However, when one recognizes that the Children of Israel wandered 40 years out there and settled on the only piece that does not seem to have immense crude oil deposits beneath the crust, one can see how the Lord blessed the descendents of Ishmael and how he was the father of mighty nations. Didn't Ishmael have 12 princes for sons? Perhaps he will get 144 big ums waiting for him in heaven as well. Isn't it interesting how all these heavenly inspired numbers, such as 72, 144 and uhhhhhh two can work together in harmony? __________________ She had a psychiatrist who said because I didn't trust the water system, the school system, the government, I was paranoid," he said. "I had a psychiatrist who said her psychiatrist was stupid."