Arabs in Prophecy

1. Ongoing Conflict Until the Second Advent

The Arab nations will be in conflict with Israel until the Second Advent of Christ. This is not a modern political development, but a prophetic reality revealed in Scripture from the beginning.

2. The Root of the Conflict: Genesis 12

The root of the Arab-Israeli conflict is found in Genesis 12, where we see the beginning of both peoples through Abraham:

• Israel's origin: Through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3)
• Arab origin: Through Ishmael (son of Abraham and Hagar) and Esau (son of Isaac, brother of Jacob) (Genesis 12:8-20)

3. Abraham's Lack of Faith: The Egyptian Detour

During a famine, Abraham chose to go to Egypt rather than remain in the Promised Land and trust God's provision. This was a lack of faith on his part. Pharaoh took Sarai into his harem and paid the bride price to Abraham, who pretended to be her brother. Included in the bride price was an Egyptian maidservant called Hagar, who would become the mother of Ishmael—the father of many Arab peoples.

4. Hagar and Ishmael: Another Lapse of Faith

Because Sarai was barren, she suggested to Abraham that he have children by Hagar (Genesis 16). This was in accordance with the laws of that day where, if a wife was unable to produce children, it was her responsibility to provide a servant so that the line would continue. Again we have a lapse of faith—Abraham and Sarah trying to fulfill God's promise by human means rather than waiting on God.

5. Hagar's Flight and the Angelic Encounter

In those days barren women were despised, and Hagar openly gloated to Sarai over the birth of Ishmael. Sarai reacted and caused Hagar to flee in a pregnant state from Abraham. In her flight she had an encounter with the Angel of the Lord, who gave a series of prophecies concerning the future of her son.

6. The Prophecies Regarding Ishmael

a) "He will be as a wild ass of a man"

This is not as derogatory a statement as it would be today, as in the ancient world many herds of wild asses roamed freely. The prophecy therefore means that the descendants of Ishmael would be nomadic—wandering peoples, not settled in one place.

b) "His hand shall be against every man"

The characteristic of Ishmael is that of aggression. He and his descendants will attack those with whom they come in contact. This has been historically verified over millennia.

c) "Every man's hand shall be against him"

His aggression will bring retaliation upon himself. The aggression of Ishmael's descendants provokes counter-aggression. This cycle of violence continues to this day.

d) "He shall dwell over against his brother"

This is a Hebrew idiom indicating that the Arabs will dwell in a state of hostility side by side with his brother (the descendants of Isaac). They will be neighbors, but hostile neighbors—a reality that has characterized the Middle East throughout history.

7. Isaac's Birth and Ishmael's Expulsion

In the meantime, God opened Sarah's womb, and Isaac was born. In Genesis 21 we have the weaning party of Isaac, which would have occurred between the ages of three and five. At this celebration we find Ishmael mocking his half-brother Isaac. As a result of this mocking, Hagar and Ishmael were expelled from Abraham's presence on God's orders, and their wanderings began. Ishmael eventually married an Egyptian, further cementing the Arab peoples' connection to Egypt.

8. Esau: The Other Father of the Arabs

The other father of the Arabs is Isaac's son Esau, twin brother of Jacob (Genesis 25). Esau was born first and therefore had the birthright, which gave him the kingship, priesthood, and the double portion of the inheritance.

9. Esau Despises His Birthright

Isaac's family had become wealthy, and therefore Esau's hunger was not a life-threatening situation. Yet he despised his birthright and was willing to sell it for a mere bowl of soup. This reveals Esau's character: he valued immediate physical gratification over spiritual blessing and long-term inheritance.

10. The Patriarchal Blessing and Esau's Hatred

The patriarchal blessing is for the person holding the birthright; thus Jacob was entitled to the blessing. The sin was in the deception by Jacob and his mother. In Genesis 27:41 it states that Esau hated Jacob because of the patriarchal blessing and plotted his murder. This again shows the antagonism between the Arabs (descendants of Esau) and the Jews (descendants of Jacob).

11. Edom Refuses Israel Passage

By Numbers 20, Esau's descendants had become the great nation of Edom, and those of Jacob had been slaves of Egypt for several generations. The Jews were miraculously released to travel toward their inheritance in Canaan. The easiest route was through the land of Edom. Moses petitioned the Edomites for passage through their land by means of the King's Highway, but was refused with violence. The hostility between the descendants of Esau and Jacob was already entrenched.

12. The Ishmaelites in the Time of the Judges

In the book of Judges we read of the Ishmaelites inflicting damages against Israel and subjugating them. The pattern of Arab aggression and conflict with Israel continues throughout Israel's history.

13. Psalm 83: The Confederacy of Arab Nations

In Psalm 83 the writer views prophetically the union of nations which comprise the modern Arab states, conspiring together to eliminate Israel. The nations listed are:

Verse 6:

• Edom — Southern Jordan
• Ishmael — Father of one segment of the modern Arab world
• Moab — Central Jordan
• Hagarenes — From Egypt

Verse 7:

• Gebal — In Lebanon
• Ammon — In Northern Jordan
• Amalek — In the Sinai Peninsula
• Philistia — In the Gaza Strip
• Tyre — In Lebanon

Verse 8:

• Assyria — Comprises all of Iraq and much of modern Syria

This prophetic psalm describes a coalition of nations surrounding Israel with the goal of Israel's destruction. The geographic locations correspond remarkably to modern Middle Eastern nations hostile to Israel.

14. The Future of the Arab Nations

The Scriptures provide specific prophecies for individual Arab nations regarding their future in the Millennial Kingdom:

a) Lebanon: Peace Through Occupation

Peace will come to Lebanon by means of occupation. Scripture gives the borders of Israel during the Messianic Kingdom, showing Israel occupying all of modern-day Lebanon during that period (Ezekiel 47:13-48:29).

b) Jordan: Peace Through Destruction (Three Ancient Nations)

Jordan comprises three ancient nations: Edom, Moab, and Ammon. In all three cases, peace comes between Israel and Jordan by destruction, though not all to the same extent.

i) Edomites (Southern Jordan)

In Ezekiel 35:6-9 Edom becomes a perpetual desolation. In verses 14-16 it remains desolate even when the rest of the world is beautified during the Millennium. This is confirmed in Isaiah 34:8-15 and Jeremiah 49:14-22. In Obadiah 17-21 it is noted as part of Israelite territory, though no one gets to live there. Finally, in Ezekiel 25:12-14, the cause of their destruction is the nation Israel. War will therefore break out between Israel and Jordan, and the southern part of Jordan will be destroyed as a result.

ii) Moab (Central Jordan)

Moab will also be destroyed but not to the same degree, according to Jeremiah 48:1-46. In verse 47 the Scriptures indicate that there will be a Moabite land during the Millennium.

iii) Ammon (Northern Jordan)

Ammon or northern Jordan will also be destroyed but will be inhabited, according to Jeremiah 49:1-6.

c) Egypt: Peace Through Destruction Then Conversion

Peace comes to Egypt by destruction initially, followed by conversion, as stated in Isaiah 19:1-22. In the first ten verses, God's punishment of Egypt is described with economic collapse and widespread unemployment.

The Conversion of the Egyptians Will Occur in Three Stages:

1. In verses 16-17, the Egyptians will develop a fear of Israel.
2. In verse 18, five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan, which is Hebrew.
3. In verses 19-22, the Egyptians will fall under a cruel dictatorship which will cause them to turn away from their gods to worship the true God, the Messiah.

According to Joel 3:19, Egypt was to suffer a similar fate as Edom but not quite the same. In Ezekiel 29:8-14, the land of Egypt will be desolate without inhabitants, with the Egyptians dispersed among the nations for the first forty years of the Millennial Kingdom. After the forty-year period, the Egyptians will be regathered to form a nation in the Kingdom. According to Zechariah 14, they will have an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles.

d) Syria and Iraq: Peace Through Conversion

Peace with Israel will occur through conversion, according to Isaiah 19:23-25. These nations will be blessed in the Kingdom, with the exception of the city of Babylon, which will be a perpetual desolation.

Conclusion

The prophecies concerning the Arab nations are clear and specific. The conflict between Arabs and Israel is not a modern political accident, but a prophetic reality rooted in the families of Abraham. Yet God's plan includes redemption for many Arab peoples: Egypt will be converted and blessed, Syria and Iraq will turn to the Messiah, and even portions of Jordan will be inhabited during the Millennial Kingdom. The ultimate resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict awaits the Second Advent of Christ, when all nations will bow before the King of Kings.