God’s Promise To Abram

Gen. 12:1-7

      Disputes over land, mineral right, grazing privilege, travel, etc. are ancient. In ancient time God called a man by the name of Abram to leave his homeland of Haran (Syria today, neighboring Iraq). Abram was to go to a land God would show him. That land is one of the most contested pieces of real estate in the world today.

      God promised the nomad, Abram, that if he would leave his "country and his kindred and his fathers house" (12:1) He would show him another land. God's promise was:

      1. "I will make of thee a great nation "

      2. "I will make thy name great"

      3. "Thou shalt be a blessing"

      4. "I will bless them that bless thee"

      5. "I will curse them that curse thee"

      6. "in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Note: land is not mentioned.)

      7. "and the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land" (12:7)

      Here we have a promise of an everlasting spiritual blessing and a promise of land. But, who are the "seed" of Abraham? You will recall that God made a promise to Abram that he would have a child and that Sarah, even though too old for childbearing, would give birth. Sarah, unwilling to wait for God's time, offered Hagar, her handmaid. And to that union Ishmael was born. Ishmael is the father of the Arab and Isaac is the father of the Jew.

The Growth Of Islam

      Who can ever forget the horror of Sept. 11, 2001? For several years I have warned hearers of the coming danger in the spread of Islam. Few Westerners know much about Islam. Until very recently an American could hardly find a Muslim Mosque, even if he wanted to find one. Today they seem to be springing up all through our country.

      Believe it or not, there is a growing, serious, life-threatening conflict between Judaism, Islam and Christianity today. Such has been the case for centuries, but it has just recently reached our shores. A friend says that he became acutely aware of this when he visited Palestine a few years ago. “The daily news tells of the continual hostility, bloodshed and war there between the Jew and the Arab. This land, approximately 50 miles wide and 100 miles long, can hardly be called "holy" with regard to daily life there. When I landed at Tel Aviv I saw 2 747 Boeing Aircraft beside the runway. They had been skyjacked and were burned out. Hostages were held for many days, some murdered and their bodies thrown down to the tarmac below. I saw evidence of war all along every roadway with rag-tag soldiers standing guard.”

      So that we may better understand Islam and the Middle East problem which has now become America’s problem because of our support of the Jews, let me define a few terms that you may also know their meanings.

I.    DEFINITION OF TERMS:

      A. "ARAB" = term derived from the Semitic word meaning "nomad", also one who "separated"

      B. "ISLAM" = "Separation", "the whole system of Islam"

      C. "MUSLIM" = An Arabic word for "separation", "one who is separated".

      D. "ALLAH" = Arabic name for God.

      E. "MOSQUE" = A building for Islamic worship

      F. "al-Kitab" = the book of Allah.

The Qur'an (Koran; literally "recitation" or "readings"). Some Arabs contend that the book can only be understood if read in Arabic. Such contention would make it impossible to translate the book. The Qur'an (Koran) is divided into "suras" (equivalent to chapters) There are 114 "suras" in the Koran. Muslims contend that the Koran is God's latest and most accurate revelation.

      II.  ISLAM - The history of Islam begins more than 600 years after all divine revelation was finished. Peter warned near the end of the first century with these words. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying he Lord... " (2 Pet. 2:1). I will provide you with evidence of how the Muslims deny the Lordship of Christ later.

      A. Islam, the youngest of the three greatest religions of the world today. The three are:

            1. Judaism (began at Mt. Sinai)

            2. Christianity (Began in Jerusalem in 3 3 AD)

            3. Islam (Islam had its origin in mid 600 AD)

      B. The Founder: Mohammed. He was neither Savior nor Messiah. But claimed to be a divinely inspired prophet..

      C. Mohammed (570 AD-632AD

            1. Born in Mecca (Eastern central Saudi Arabia) 570 AD to respected parents.

            2. Wandered in the hills and deserts as a young man.

            3. His claim to Revelation: Mohammed claimed the angel Gabriel came to him in a vision and commanded him to "recite". (He never wrote anything nor is it known that he could read and/or write). After his death (632 AD) some of his followers began to put down what he had recited, thus the Koran. Mohammed came to be called "the prophet of Allah."

            4. Kadadija - Mohammed's wife, 15 yrs his senior, handsome widow was the first person to recognize him as a prophet, was first to promote and encourage him.

            5. Revelation supposedly came over a period of 10 years. Mohammed became a "street preacher" in Mecca, denouncing idols, immoralities, etc. He was bad for pagan trade and merchants heckled him. The people finally ran him out of town.

            6. Mohammed moved some 200 miles north to the town of Yathrid where the people were much friendlier.

            7. Mohammed's power grew rapidly. He soon became more than a mere religious leader, He became Governor of Yathrid. Soon his followers took up arms and there is a war with his followers and armies of Mecca. Mohammed's armies won that war in 630 AD and marched on. Within two years he became ruler of Arabia. He died two years later, in 632 AD but his followers moved onward with great zeal and success. They went forth to conquer the earth for Allah with militant force. For example" Mohammed led his men in a massacre against Jewish opponents at Medina. He had 600 captives, beheaded them and took one of their prettiest widows to the couch for the night. He was responsible for the deaths of thousands through battle, execution and assassination. According to the Koran, Allah commands his followers to advance the cause of Islam by fighting, murder and war. Let me quote the Koran for you:

"The true believers fght for the cause of God, but the infidels fight for the devil. Fight then against befriends of Satan. Satan* cunning is weak indeed" (Sure 4:77).

"...if they desert you, seize them and put them to death wherever you find them. Look for neither friends nor helpers among them except those who seek refuge with your allies or come over to you because their hearts forbid them to fight against you or against their own people....if they neither offer you peace nor cease their hostilities against you, lay hold of them and kill them wherever you find them." (Sura 4:86-91)

"How many cities have we destroyed! In the night our scourge fell upon them, or at midday, when they were drowsing " (Sura 7:3)

"Believers, when you encounter the Infidels on the march, do not turn your backs to them in f light. If anyone on that day turns his back to them, except for tactical reasons, or to join another band, he shall incur the wrath of God and Hell shall be his home: an evil fate. It is not you, but God, who slew them It was not you who smote them: God smote them so that He might richly reward the faithful." (Sura 8: 16-17)

"A prophet may not take captives until he has fought and triumphed in the land" (Sura 8:67)

"Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers, except to those idolaters who have honoured their treaties with you in every detail and aided none against you. With those keep faith, until their treaties have run their terns. God loves the righteous. When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for then "(Sura 9:1-5)

"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them. Know that Go is with the righteous. (Sura 9:123)

"Say to the desert Arabs who stayed behind: 'You will be called upon to fight a mighty nation; Unless they embrace Islam. If you prove obedient, God win reward you well. But incomplete

      1. Ancient traditions

2. Legends found elsewhere

3. Doctrines:

a: Monotheism, One God

b. "Last Day" - Judgment, Heaven/Hell

c. Morality-marriage, divorce, remarriage, etc. treatment of one divorced.

d. No priesthood, no sacraments

e. Prayer 5 times daily, facing Mecca. And prayer from the Mosque on Friday.

f. Almsgiving

g. Fast of Ramadan (9th month of the Mohammedian year, celebrating the first of Mohammed's revelations.)

h. . Pilgrimage to Mecca

i. Dietary Law - no pork

j. No gambling

k. No usury

l. No images/icons, etc.

m. Circumcision

IV. WHAT GOD HAS SAID: (Heb. 1:1,2)

      A. God has "spoke" (past tense). By:

1. the prophets

2. His Son

3. No other revelation since the end of the first century. Not by Mohammed, Joseph Smith,

Mary Baker Eddy, the Pope, nor even and Angel. (Gal. 1:8,9)

      B. That word was "confirmed" before the end of the first century. Heb. 2:1-3)

      C. That "faith" was once for all delivered. (Jude. 3), 500 years before Mohammed was bom.

      D. Do you BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ?

      E. Will you confess that faith?

      E. Will you turn from your sins

      G. Will you be baptized with Jesus for the remission of your sns?

      H. Will, you, my brother/sister contend for this faith?