Blogosphere Madness: Dogmasphere 2010: More Ravings of a Religious Fanatic

By Duane Andry

Continuing the extract from the Blog (http://s201453435.onlinehome.us/); these are More Ravings of a Religious Fanatic. These topics are edgy-while maintaining spiritual accuracy-analyses of religious principles, practices and doctrine: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34) Our destination is this: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: . . . (Ephesians 6:14-17) These are tools to strengthen the thrust of the sword of the Spirit. However, you cannot just repeat what you read here; rather, you must also apply Scripture: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463429355

Duane Andry

Let's see, I guess I have to include the obligatory mention of my name, so here it is: my name is Duane Andry. Hi! Okay, there is a missing piece; actually my full given name is Duane Alexander Andry. Other missing pieces that may, or may not, be of interest are my education and the life's journey I took to reach this point. Neither of those will be mentioned here because they are a book unto themselves (or more). The thing that is included is my reason for presenting this and other works to you. The easiest way for me to tell you that is to borrow from Scripture, as recorded in the Bible, King James Version, for the central part of my biography. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:16-18 Lest you think that it is contradictory to set a price on the book, let me prevent that thought from taking root. This book is not forced on anyone, by either shrewd marketing, or by personal public pronouncement. Rather, the acceptance of this book, at the price that is requested from the various distributors, is dependent on you sharing your assets with me, as in the fashion of the following Scripture. Thank you. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Philippians 4:15-16 As a part of my biography, I have been infused with the challenge to incorporate other souls in the mission of true Christianity, as a sub-operation of service to the Living God. Yes, this is the same Living God that is described in the pages of the Bible, both Testaments. Yes, these Testaments have some things that are contradictory to the curious mind. No, the Testaments are not contradictory to themselves; but rather, they are progressive in the channeling of me, and the rest of mankind, to a greater understanding of why we evolved from God. My calling is to open the doors to this understanding, so that you will not fall into the negative category that the apostle Peter described in the following statement. Instead, it is my prayer that you both demonstrate and accentuate the positive portion. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:14-16 Since my actions are my biography, it is my pleasure to ask you to become a part of my biography, as we both go forward, in the LORD God. Let us learn from the things of the past, to enhance the future, as we press to live according to the mission of the apostle Paul, as he pressed to live according to the calling of the one who is referred to as the Son of God and as the Christ. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Philippians 3:13-15

Book preview

Blogosphere Madness:

Dogmasphere

2010

More Ravings of a Religious Fanatic

Duane Andry

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011 by Duane Andry. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

No Copyright. Public Domain.

First published by AuthorHouse 08/18/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2933-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2934-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2935-5 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011911522

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.THE FACE

OF THE PLACE

Contents

Overview

Welcome

Your Correspondent

What Am I Working On?

What Happens Here

In the Foyer

Your Invitation to View the House

Why Stop Here

Category: Pure Religion

Kingdoms of Man

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

Part Ten

Category: Called to Service

Leaning on the Highest Judge

Category: Called to Service

Abortion

(Layers of the Dilemma)

Category: Called to Service

Ancient Egyptian Model

Category: Called to Service

Healthy Choices for physical well-being

Healthy Choices for mental well-being

Healthy Choices leading to sound spiritual development

Essentials for Living

Beyond the Basics

Prosperity

Series One

Overview

Blogosphere Madness

Overview

The door

http://s201453435.onlinehome.us/

in association with

LifeLearningSeries.com

LifeLearningSeries.org

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Send messages to: [e-mail]

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Welcome

Expressing the Scripture in life settings, and according to their challenges; going beyond the milk of the word

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Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying,

These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

The

Acts of the apostles

chapter seventeen

verses one through fourteen

If you should prefer to review some of the materials online, please note that it, too, is copyrighted material. Please, therefore, respect it as such: please do not mail it to others, but, instead, send them this link: http://www.lifelearningseries.com.

In addition, you can find previews of several books in the series, here: http://www.lifelearningseries.com/4.html.

Of course, the address of this Blog, http://s201453435.onlinehome.us/, is also shareable. I am not sure yet whether I want to open up comments from this location: in the meantime, if you have any remarks or observations about the contents of the Blog, please send them to [e-mail]; with the Subject, Comment for Blog Master. If they are comments about the main site, LifeLearningSeries.com, please send them to [e-mail]; with the Subject, User Comment.

Our purpose in these offerings, both here and on the Web, is to edify…

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

The epistle of Paul the apostle

to the

Hebrews

chapter six

verses one through three

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Your Correspondent

(adapted from http://s201453435.onlinehome.us/your-correspondent/)

My name is Duane Andry. I am currently the author of six published books (seven, with this one included), and several more books that have not been released for publication, as of this time. By viewing the associated sites, Life Learning Series [Link=http://www.lifelearningseries.com], you will be able to get a view of the other publications that are in the pipeline.

As an adjunct to the publications listed in the Life Learning Series [Link=http://www.lifelearningseries.com], there are helpful pointers to other sites at our place of Achieving the Abundant Life [Link=http://www.lifelearningseries.org]. Both sites will assist you in moving either toward, or in, the abundant life.

The Blog [Link=http://s201453435.onlinehome.us] is the place where the freeform pontification occurs. There, we do not make excuses for our statements about life, or about the Bible. Nor do we make excuses for our statements about the various ways of life that various groups of folks have taken up as alternatives to the Christian walk. By stating this, I have given you the only clue that you need to have in order to know that I attempt to walk in the way of Christ—this I do, also without apology.

If strong, sometimes dogmatic, statements of the way of the LORD God offend you, then we definitely invite you to read from the three areas mentioned above.

Of course, if you are enthralled by the way of the LORD and of His Christ, please feel free to both read what is here, and to comment on what you see written. To be more precise: at the current time, send me a message with your thoughts about the things that you see; if you think that there is some need for consideration of your view of how life should be lived. However, be warned of the following personal principle: I, the author, do not waiver in what I believe. I, the author, am adamant about not absorbing words and principles solely because someone tells me that there is a mass opinion that requires me to do so. The only options (they are not opinions) that the author recognizes, in life, are those that come from the LORD.

Having said the above, I now make this request of you: please keep the following Scripture in mind as you proceed through the reading here; and in the rest of your life, too.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The second epistle

of Paul the apostle to the

Corinthians

chapter two

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SUPPORT

FOR THE POSTS

What Am I Working On?

[Way off the Recognized Beaten Path;

Though, not off the Historical One]

Work is in flight on the development of inspirational and motivational collections of literature; collections that will be of interest to those students of life, and of religion, who truly want to understand the God of the Bible. The objective is to explore and explain the pure religion that is of the Bible, with a minimum of extra-biblical references, other than the associated text that is contained in the bodies of the collections.

These are in-depth evaluations of specific topics in life, sometimes, even, centering on a single word; as such, they will be extensive and exhaustive. Therefore, they will require your diligent evaluation, in order for you to maximize your understanding of the contents. There are no surface answers to use as intellectual crutches. In reviewing the contents, there will be a sparse amount of material available for convenient clichés or catch phrases. Moreover, even where such things are present, and even if they end up being catch phrases; the intention is to eliminate the type of accusatory chastisement and reckless condemnation that is, too often, projected as a means to promote particular religious agendas.

The works are scholarly, so they indeed require more than just a basic level of interpretive skills. Yes, these are interpretive works; after all, they are the products of the mind of a human, such as the readers are, too. There is much controversy involved in them; but this is the nature of the pure reliance on the words of the Bible. Such reliance tolerates neither signs of the times nor lifestyle nuances of any single revered group or individual—except for the major groups and individuals that you will find in the pages of the Bible: Included among the revered individuals that are in the Bible are the following: the children of Israel, Moses and the prophets, and Jesus of Nazareth and the apostles.

This is not, though, an abstract discussion of religious principles. Much of what is contained in the series will use examples from life, to add some relevance to the readers’ experiences with the text. Fortunately in that regard, I received the blessing of seeing many areas of life, and these experiences are included here for the edification of the readers of the Series. The journey begins in the first book of the first Series, Didn’t Go: The View from the Top.

Additionally, for those who are e-persons, there is a supporting web site system. The path through this system begins with this e-place: http://www.lifelearningseries.org.

If you want to receive updates as the process evolves, let me know where to send them, by sending a message to us, here, [e-mail], with a suggested subject of, Series Update Request

Thank you for visiting with us.

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What Am I Working On?

(http://www.lifelearningseries.org/11.html)

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What Happens Here

at

http://www.LifeLearningSeries.org

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Opening the door to your self;

Inspiring you to enter

And unpack the motivations,

Toward a more Productive Life

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This spiritual offering, in its four parts, will be continually in development (a rudimentary bookstore is also available at http://s243269425.e-shop.info/, or externally at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duane-Andry/e/B004KAJJR6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0). This is the front door to a spiritual house, filled with information. This offering has a structure that changes: it is built and furnished, and rebuilt and refurnished; constantly in progress, over time. Though, even in the beginning, it has been designed to display the completed destination.

Additionally in this place, you will see several windows through which you will be able to gaze into other worlds; worlds that are outside of this offering. However, you will also discover that some of the windows are not ready; that they still have a haze over them. These portals are included to give you a somewhat constant picture of that which we are preparing for you. In addition, these portals are included now because we want you to prime your mind (and ours, too) with ideas of the best use of the information that will be made available to you, as soon as we can release it to you. We will not leave the overhanging haze; we will clear the fog, little by little.

Please feel free to peer through those windows that are clear for visual passage; they are there for your edification. Do not worry; you will not be confused; the windows that are not ready for your visual passage will be marked as such. Please check back, from time to time, to see what new windows have become attached to the intended worldview.

Please do not become upset with the progressive unfolding that is the nature of this visual offering to you. Though it may seem sketchy, initially; in time, it will feel complete (even though it will be constantly changing).

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In the meantime, as you wait for us to clear covered windows, and for us to make them ready for your viewing (and at any other time, too), you may want to visit the Blog [http://s201453435.onlinehome.us/]; in it, you will find thought provoking insights. These insights, too, are there to enhance your ability to abide in a more Productive Life.

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We welcome your suggestions and comments. Address your message to [e-mail]

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http://www.LifeLearningSeries.org

In association with

LifeLearningSeries.com

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What Happens Here (http://www.lifelearningseries.org/index.html)

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In the Foyer

Your Invitation to View the House

at

http://www.LifeLearningSeries.org

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Inspiring you to enter

And unpack the motivations,

Toward a more Productive Life

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Read the following portion of Scripture from the Bible, and ponder for a moment what it means.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

(Romans 10:1-2)

To some people that are students of the Bible, especially, those ones that are of the Christian faith; Romans 10:1-2 is, generally, thought of as being an exclusive reference to the salvation that leads to eternal life. However, those of us who are also students of the history of that time, broaden this statement to include the preservation of the nation of Israel as a distinct culture.

Throughout the history of the Bible, the people of Israel had maintained their religious culture; even through times of dispersion among the nations of the world of that day. However, at various points in the timeline of the Bible there was some concern that the culture would wither in the hearts of the people because of voluntary acceptance of their host’s culture and religious practices. In fact, this did happen to a large number of the Israelites. It happened in a fashion that was an inversion of a commandment of the LORD, as the LORD set that commandment forth in a portion of the Law of God that Moses delivered to the Israelites, as written on the tablets that Moses received. This is that portion of the writing, as coming from what Moses delivered to the Israelites.

Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

(Exodus 34:12-16)

Throughout the history of the Bible, there was not a lot of concern that the entire set of the children of Jacob would disappear from the earth. There was, though, a great fear that they would be absorbed into the cultures of the various nations to which their captors took them, and that, thereby, they would lose their national identity.

Question: So, what does this have to do with learning about life?

Answer (introductory): The forces that shape an individual are of the same type as the forces that shape a nation; typically, these forces pull us toward conformance with some norm. There is nothing necessarily wrong with allowing our self to abide in some of these common forces in life, when the forces are operating in concert with the Spirit of God. However, we must still be aware of the different ways the LORD affects each one of us, as individuals, and not just as a collective.

Scripture declares that each one of us is a unique soul, with a unique path that we will travel, as life. Yes, there are some very similar patterns, but, still, the way we step while traveling along these paths will be different for each individual. Careful attention to our unique relationship with God, and the peculiar way that the LORD calls us into His service, must always occupy our thoughts. We must be a constant student of our self.

In analyzing life’s optional directions, there is, occasionally, a lamentation about the two students that though they had a very similar educational experience; nonetheless, because one of them read a certain publication while the other one did not, the reader of that certain publication excelled far beyond the other one that did not read it. This occasional lamentation points us to the fact that there are varying abilities that we have; abilities that we use in varying assessments of opportunities, so that we can truly be in the right place for us, at the right time. The purpose of this textual site (and its e-associates) is to provide you with some tools to assist you in walking whatever path you are facing; and, by doing so, moving in the way that gives you a chance to feel at ease about your self.

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To assist you along the path of your life, we have provided some resources for three of the phases of life, as well as some resources for three of the stages of our development. On behalf of this site (and its associates), I ask you to accept its request for your patience; a request that I express in words that I have borrowed from an unidentified (by me) scholar of life: Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet. You may also include this addendum: because the webmaster (me) is not moving as fast as the LORD can deliver His grace.

By the way; we add this note, without apology: We are a religious site-maker. More specifically, we are a Christ-focused site-maker. Therefore, you will see a preceding Scripture for each phase, and for each stage. Even so, we are not (at this place) attempting to proselytize: if such enlightenment occurs to you, it is by the will of God; and, this is good, too.

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Phases of Life (expanded in Extension A):

Healthy Choices for physical well-being

Healthy Choices for mental well-being

Healthy Choices leading to sound spiritual development

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Stages of Development (expanded in Extension B):

Essentials for Living

Beyond the Basics

Prosperity

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Pamper yourself a little (expanded in Extension C):

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In the Foyer: Your Invitation to View the House (http://www.lifelearningseries.org/2.html)

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Why Stop Here

PLEASE NOTE: You will find a fuller exploration of the following, in the books, Reconciliation: The Children of Abraham, and The Great Consolidation: Reconciling the Family of God (available at http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4074915).

Christianity seems to be taking a brutal hit from the world, at this time. It seems that there is some fatigue about the message of the Gospel, as delivered by much of the community of ministers, priests, and other officials of the organized church. This is unfortunate. The message of the Gospel, as contained in the Bible, is a powerful tool for living. It is time to present the full potency of the message of the Gospel to the world, in a modern, and yet still unadulterated, format. This must be—and will be—done without change to any of the words of the Bible (King James Version); instead, we will wrap them in modern phraseology and imagery.

Throughout this discourse, we present discussions of Bible-based topics of religious living, with an emphasis on the Jewish and Christian traditions. We also represent to you certain parts of Islam; those portions that honor the God of Abraham. In this Blog, we study God in the manner that the Old Testament of the Bible reveals Him to us. To begin the journey, let us review these words from a meditation between God and Moses:

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

(Exodus 3:11-15)

Lest any person who is of the lineage of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham, become uncomfortable with this Scripture, let me add that the LORD is also the God of Ishmael. To support this statement, let me quote from a few passages of the Bible that reveal the bonds that link the two lines of Abraham: Ishmael and Isaac. The bonds for these lines of Abraham retain the power of the blessing that they received because of Abraham, as seen in the flow of Scripture.

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

(Genesis 17:17-20)

And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

(Genesis 25:7-10)

Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham: And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

(Genesis 25:12-18)

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As recorded in the Bible, there was no apparent animosity between the two brothers, Ishmael and Isaac. There is no written indication that, once they were of the age of accountability, Ishmael and Isaac ever had any specific conflicts between them that had to be set aside. In their time, they seem to have put aside the differences of their mothers.

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The peaceful coexistence of the families of Ishmael and Isaac, in the world of their day, is the same sort of peace that another two brothers achieved. These brothers did surely have at least one—maybe two—adult-level conflicts between them that needed to be resolved. These brothers are the twin sons (fraternal, not maternal) of Isaac and Rebekah. Therefore, since they were twins, they had no inherent maternal differences to set aside. However, they did have paternal differences that spilled over to, and absorbed a significant part of, the joint-life of the children. Again, this is recorded in the Bible, as described in the following recap of the historical flow.

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At the beginning of the conflict, the brothers had this type of relationship:

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son:

and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son.

And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

(Genesis 27:1-13)

The subterfuge of Rebekah was successful. However, in success on Jacob’s part, Esau was beset by an ill feeling.

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.

And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou?

And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.

And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

(Genesis 27:30-36)

Esau’s ill feeling morphed into a deadly search for vengeance.

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away; Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

(Genesis 27:41-45)

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As a significant note here, before concluding the matter, and because it appears in the flow of the interaction between Jacob and Esau; there is some blending of the lines of Ishmael and Isaac. This fact further accentuates the absence of discord between the sons of Abraham—Ishmael and Isaac. It is a lack of discord that was glaringly evident in their descendants.

When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughers of Canaan; And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

(Genesis 28:6-9)

This Scripture seems, too, to highlight a sort of rivalry between Esau and Jacob; at least, within Esau toward Jacob. However, even though there was a struggle; this did not eliminate either one of them from being eligible for the blessing of the LORD, each in his own way. Regardless of the struggle between the brothers, Jacob and Esau; still, the LORD moved them through life with individual measures of prosperity.

Briefly using the previous relationships to highlight a present opportunity; there is a powerful lesson in that aspect of the way God interacted with the people and communities of the Bible—the lines of Ishmael and Isaac, and the persons, Jacob and Esau. It is a lesson that certain nations of the current day need to learn, absorb, and practice with one another. He who hath an ear, let him hear.

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In respect to the descendants of Abraham in the lines of Jacob and Esau, the beneficence of the LORD God extended into the lives of both brothers. God did not favor only one of them just because he was a child of promise—Jacob—while summarily, and without recourse, neglecting or discarding the other—Esau. Both sons are of the line of Abraham, through Isaac; thus, both sons were heirs to the blessings of the LORD, bestowed upon them in accordance with how they reached out to the LORD to receive them. The LORD God is the connecting force in this equation, and He is the One to produce the result.

It is the same today, for the modern equations of the children of Abraham; both the collection of children that are biologically connected, as well as the adopted ones. As clarification of the status of this collection—biological and adopted—it is as the apostle Paul taught, in the matter of the expanded set of heirs to Abraham’s legacy and blessing.

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying,

Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision?

Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

(Romans 4:1-13)

In the LORD, the resident stranger, even, is allowed full access to God’s blessings.

And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt:

I am the LORD your God.

(Leviticus 19:33-34)

Thus, in time, the relationship of the families of the two brothers, Jacob and Esau, matured to this form:

And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men.

And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee?

And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met?

And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.

And he urged him,

and he took it.

(Genesis 33:1-11)

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Quickly; here is some more food for thought, as illustrates the connectedness of the people of this region; as engineered by God, at the origin of the grace of salvation through faith.

Israel merges