A Wild Ass of a Man

How would you like to see that on a church marquee or bulletin for the sermon title? I haven’t seen it, but maybe one day.

The description is that of Ishmael. He is a figure not often heard about in Christian churches. He is the firstborn son of Abraham. He is also the father of Islam.

God promised to Abraham and Sarah they would have a child. However, nothing was happening. So Sarah offers her slave to act as a surrogate mother. “Consort with my maid; perhaps I shall have a son through her,” she says. Abraham doesn’t object. The slave-girl is Hagar and she becomes pregnant. Hagar now, according to Sarah, thinks less of her and Sarah complains to Abraham. He says to “deal with her as you think right.” So Sarah treats her harshly and Hagar runs away.

There is a later occurring version of this story that has Abraham casting out Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. Abraham gives the a small amount of bread and water and sends them away. The water is soon gone and Hagar gives up, leaving Ishmael under some bushes and she walks away so she doesn’t have to watch Ishmael die.

Hagar begins to cry and God hears her. An angel of God tells her to get up and get the child and that God will make a great nation of him. God opens her eyes and she sees a well of water.

Going back to the first version, the angel of the Lord says to go back to Sarah and submit to her harsh treatment. The angel of the Lord continues by saying her offspring will greatly increase. And about Ishmael,

He shall be a wild ass of a man; His hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he shall dwell alongside of all his kinsmen.

Ass, of course, is not a word you would stand up in church and say. Most people think of the hind-quarters when hearing that word. But, the reference is to a donkey. A wild ass can run almost as fast as a horse and defend them selves by kicking with the front and back legs.

It would be 13 years later Abraham and Sarah have a child of their own, Isaac.

The story of Abraham taking Isaac to be sacrificed is a familiar one to Christians, but Muslims say it was not Isaac, but Ishmael that was taken to the mountain to be sacrificed. In the Qur’an, Abraham sacrifices Ishmael on the temple mount. (The Qur’an doesn’t name the son sacrificed, but Muslims believe it was Ishmael.)

Two other Biblical references to Ishmael occur.

First, Ishmael and his brother Isaac come together to bury their dad Abraham after he dies.

Second, Isaac had two sons named Jacob and Esau. Esau was the firstborn but Jacob became the favored brother. Esau eventually marries Ishmael’s daughter, Mahalath.

According to the scriptures, Ishmael lived 137 years, breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his kin.

~ by bart on January 30, 2008.