In Genesis 15, God makes a promise and covenant to Abraham that continues to this day and will throughout the Millennium to come. This promise would see its fulfillment through a son, Isaac. This includes not only a people for Himself Called the Jewish nation, but also a defined area of land that would be theirs forever.

In the next chapter, Genesis 16, God makes some interesting promises to Hagar, slave girl of Abraham and Sarai, who had a son, Ishmael by Abraham prior to the birth of Isaac. The promise included a multiplicaiton of descendants, but also that her son would be a "wild ass of a man", who would perpetually in conflict with others and "against the face of his brethren".

This prophecy is being fulfilled daily in the Arab peoples who are descendants of Ishmael. And while God does have a plan for the Arab peoples and nations surrounding Israel, that plan does not include their securing the land of Israel which has been covenanted to the Jewish nation forever.

Ultimately, Ishmael married an Egyptian and twelve sons or princes came from this union in accordance with God's plan. Arab means "bedouin" or "nomad" and in Biblical times, Arabs lived in Arabia.

The established connections to this side of the family continue with Esau, who sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal - a birthright that the Arabs and Palestinians have been demanding be returned to them.

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat is an Edomite or descendant of Esau.

Esau married two of Ishmael's daughters, thus cementing the family relationship.

Esau live din the region of Edom (modern day Petra) and Jordan and over the next 4000 years, intermarried and spread to Arab occupied territories such as Moab, North Africa and Arabia. The Arab peoples are also related to the Egyptians.

In the twentieth century, the names Arab and Islam are almost synonymous. The Arabs through Mohammed were responsible for the introduction of Islam and Islam is responsible for keeping the Arab people in the dark and in deception.

Genesis 33 provides an interesting scenario, which will ultimately be fulfilled in a day to come. "Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him and they wept." This scenario is precisely how God the Father wants to see the Middle East conflict end. A reconciliation ear-marked already in Scripture. Perhaps precipitated by the coming judgment of Esau.

As the world watches and wonders, it IS possible to know why the Middle East conflict is continuing and what it is all about. The Scriptures are clear on past history and can be trusted for prophecy yet to be fulfilled.

THE FUTURE