The story goes that God told Abraham that he would have a son, to name him Isaac, and that Isaac would be the first of a great nation, their number more than all the grains of sand in the desert. At that time, Abraham was 100-years old and Sarai, his wife, was 90-years old. Years passed, Abraham and Sarai grew even older, and Sarai began losing faith in God's promise because she was way "beyond childbearing years". So, she had a suggestion to solve the problem, to help God so to speak.
Sarai suggested that Abraham "lay" with her young Egyptian handmaiden, Hagar, and bear a child with her that would be Sarai's and Abraham's heir. It was a sort of surrogate birth. Abraham wavered and bought the suggestion, lay with Hagar, and Ishmael was born. Abrham was pleased with his new son but this did not please God, as the story goes.
As God promised, Sarai got pregnant by Abraham and Isaac was born. The seed of conflict was planted with the birth of Ishmael and now, with the birth of Isaac, that conflict would set the stage for thousands of years of death and destruction.
In those days, the first born son would inherit the father's business, all his wealth and power. Even though Isaac was the first born and stood to inherit everything, Sarai began treating Ishmael and Hagar badly. She told Abraham to cast them out of the encampment. Abraham struggled over this because Ishmael was his first-born son. But, God told Abraham to listen to Sarai. Abarham left Hagar and Ishmael in the desert in God's care. Then God spoke to Hagar and Ishmael in the desert and made Hagar a promise that Ishmael would be the father "of a great nation" as well.
Interesting story. It is interesting in the fact that Isaac and Ishmael are really half-brothers. Both are fathered by Abraham. But, which one was the heir to the Promised Land?
Israeli's believe they are because God personally made the promise to Abraham first as written in the Old Testament. Arabs believe they are the rightful heirs because Ishmael was the first-born male and that God personally made a promise to Hagar. Therein is the genesis of conflict.
The Prophet Mohammed further added to the conflict with his Testament of a personal visit from God. He wrote what he said God told him and that is the foundation of faith that Ishmael's descendants cite as their right to the Promised Land.
And, further complicating the issue is Religion. Jews believe their religion is God's chosen religion. Islamists believe that only theirs is the true religion. Both believe that the rest of the world is populated by infidels who need to be converted.
So, you see, the conflict in the Middle East is a family squabble. Unfortunately is has claimed thousands of lives among combatants and innocents.
