So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. – Genesis 13:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (May 29, 2015): Genesis 13

Abraham is regarded as father to three different religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The connection between Judaism and Abraham is probably the most clear. Abraham was the Father of Isaac who was the father of Jacob whose name would be changed to Israel. His sons would form the basis for the twelve tribes of Israel (actually thirteen tribes, but Levi was not given a single inheritance within the nation. Instead, they were given the responsibility for the tabernacle, and later the temple - the dwelling places of God. In their place, the tribe of Joseph was broken into two – Manasseh and Ephraim.) So Father Abraham was Jacob’s (Israel’s) Grandfather, and ancestor to all who hold Judaism close to their hearts.

Islam also has a tight relationship with Abraham. Isaac was not the only son of Abraham. Isaac had an older brother named Ishmael. Ishmael mother was Sarah’s (Abraham’s wife) handmaiden or servant. Because Sarah was unable to conceive, Hagar laid with Abraham and conceived Ishmael. According to custom, a child born to Sarah’s servant could be considered to be Sarah’s. But once Ishmael was born, a jealousy sprouted between Sarah and Hagar. So when Sarah finally gave birth to Isaac, Sarah ordered that Hagar and Ishmael be turned loose to fend for themselves. God promised Hagar that Ishmael would become the father of many nations, and it is believed that the Arab nations, the foundation for Islam, are his offspring. And anyone who converts to Islam is welcomed into this connection with Abraham.

The Christian view of Abraham is that he is our father through adoption. We may not be able to boast a blood relationship with Abraham, but through faith in the Messiah of Judaism we have also have been welcomed into his family. Three faiths all connected to this ancient, earthly righteous man named Abraham.

And as I hear the words of Abram (Abraham) to Lot, and Abraham’s desire that there would be no conflict between him and his relatives, I wonder how he would have felt about the fight that has been raging for centuries between his various descendants. I am not sure that he would have rejoiced in, or even would have understood, the conflict that exists between the three Abrahamic faiths.

I am also not sure that there is a way back for us, but if there is, I think we need to find it and take it. Judaism, Christianity and Islam need to find a way that they can disagree with each other and yet still love. We are all still trying to serve the same God, even if we choose to serve him in very different ways. And we are still brothers and sisters, the children of Abraham, even if we found our Abrahamic inheritance following a different paths. We should be the biggest allies we have outside of our own faiths – and not the biggest enemies.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 14