Expert: Patricia Burns - 8/29/2006

Question
Hello Patricia - and thank you for taking my question. I have been reading up on Islam and while I do not intend to convert - they do bring up some interesting points that I cant seem to counter against when reading the bible. My main stumbling block regards Issac and Ishmael. I will quote a mulsim website that talks about this - it seems to me that they are right about the following and I was hoping you could provide some insight:

    Analysis of Differences Between the Quran and the Bible regarding Ishmael

Is reconciliation of these differences possible? Let’s focus on the last difference, namely did this incident take place before or after Isaac’s birth?

If we were to accept the Biblical version, we would encounter a number of inconsistencies and contradictions.

It is abundantly clear from the story in Gen. 21:14-19 that Ishmael was a little baby at the time. Following is the documentation of this statement:

According to Gen. 16:16 Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born. And according to Gen. 21:5 Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born. It follows that Ishmael was already fourteen years old when his younger brother Isaac was born.

According to Gen. 21:14-19, the incident took place after Isaac was weaned. Biblical scholars tell us that “the child was weaned about the age of three”.

It follows that when Hagar and Ishmael were taken away Ishmael was a full grown teenager seventeen years old.

The profile of Ishmael in Gen. 21:14-19, however, is that of a small baby and not of a teenager. Why?

First: According to The Interpreter’s Bible, the original Hebrew for Gen. 21:14 was “... and put the child upon her shoulder”. The same reading is rendered in the Revised Standard Edition of the Bible.

How would a mother carry a seventeen year old teenager “upon her shoulder”? Certainly he was strong enough to carry his mother! Ishmael must have been a baby!

Second: In Gen. 21:15 we are told that Hagar “cast” the child under one of the shrubs, Again, according to this Biblical text Ishmael must have been a baby and not a teenager.

Third: In Gen. 21:16 we are told that Hagar sat away so that she may not see the death of the child before her own eyes. Is that a profile of a husky seventeen year old teenager who probably was capable of being worried about his mother dying before his eyes? Or is it obviously a profile of a small helpless baby or at most a small child?

Fourth: According to Gen. 21:17, the angels told Hagar “arise, lift up the lad”. Is a seventeen year old young man a proper object to be “lifted up” by a woman? Or is that a reference to a small child or a baby?

Fifth: In Gen. 21:19, we are told that Hagar went to fill the bottle with water “and give the lad a drink”. One would expect a strong young man of seventeen to go and bring water to his mother instead.

The above analysis leads to the inevitable conclusion that while the Bible contains some truths as explained earlier, there is also evidence of human additions, deletions, and interpolations which only a subsequent authentic revelation (The Qur’an) could clear. The Islamic version of the story is fully consistent and coherent from A to Z; Ishmael was a baby and Isaac was not born yet when this incident took place. This coherence and consistency are confirmed by centuries-old traditions and even actual locations in Makkah (Mecca) where Hagar and Ishmael settled. This clearly implies that the real reason behind their settlement in Arabia (Paran) was not the dictation, jealousy, ego or sense of racial superiority on the part of Sarah. It was rather God’s plan; pure and simple.

It may be relevant to indicate that this issue is not the only instance of inconsistency in respect to Ishmael’s story. The Interpreter’s Bible compares the story of Hagar and Ishmael in Gen. 21:14-19 with that in an earlier chapter (Gen. 16:1-16) and concludes “the inclusion in Genesis of both stories so nearly alike and yet sufficiently different to be inconsistent, is one of many instances of the reluctance of the compilers to sacrifice any of the traditions which has become established in Israel”.


So Reverand you can see how I would be confused. I want my Christian faith to remain intact - but cant ignore the obvious inconsistancy of the biblical story that the muslims have pointed out - any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. thankyou


Answer
I have not yet had the opportunity to study the events of Ishmael and Issac in any depth at all.  My passion for Bible study has primarily been in the area of end-time prophecy.  Therefore, at this point, I would not be able to provide you with responses to your questions.

I will say this though, if I were to use sources outside the Holy Bible to study on any biblical subject, I would always be keeping in mind the following –

1.   The Holy Scriptures are not the private interpretation of men (2 Pe.1:20 below), but they are given by God through the Holy Spirit.

2.   ALL Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Pe.1:21, 2 Tim.3:16, 2 Samuel 23:2, Eph.3:5 below).

3.   God’s word is true from the beginning (Ps.119:160 below).

4.   God is the God of truth (Ps.31:5, Deut.32:4, Ps.25:5, Jn.17:17 below).

5.   All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim.3:16 below).

6.   The spirit of Truth will guide you into all truth (Jn.16:13 below)

7. If a religious author’s writings do not speak according to the Holy Bible, there is no light in them (Isa.8:20 below).


As I study, I would be asking myself, Can this religious writing stand in the light of the Holy Bible (Isa.8:20 below)?  If it could not, I would believe the Holy Bible on the matter.  


Scriptures:

2 Pe.1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2 Pe.1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Tim.3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Samuel 23:2    The Spirit of the LORD spake by me (David), and his word [was] in my tongue.

Eph.3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Ps.119.160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Ps.31:5 Into Thine hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

Deut. 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are judgment, a God of truth and without iniquity; just and right is He.

Ps.25:5   Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day.

Jn.17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

2 Tim.3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Jn.16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Isa.8:20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.



Pat (ndbpsa ©)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BibleProphecy