Azahari Hassim
Paul claimed that he was an apostle to the Gentiles. What was his connection to the people of Kedar, who were Gentiles and would enter God’s fold as predicted in Isaiah 42 verse 11 and Isaiah 60 verse 7? Kedar was the son of Ishmael, the ancestor of the Arab people.
This is a very interesting question. Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, meaning that he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the non-Jewish nations. He traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire, visiting places such as Cyprus, Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia, and Rome. He also wrote many letters to the churches he founded or visited, which are part of the New Testament.
While Paul’s ministry was mainly directed towards the Gentiles in various regions, there is no specific mention or connection between Paul and the people of Kedar in the New Testament.
The people of Kedar were a nomadic tribe of Arabs, descended from Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. They are mentioned several times in the Old Testament as examples of the distant nations that would worship the true God. Isaiah 42 verse 11 and Isaiah 60 verse 7 are two of the prophecies that foretell the inclusion of the people of Kedar in God’s salvation plan.
The references to Kedar in Isaiah are prophecies that speak about the inclusion of Gentiles into God’s fold. These prophecies imply that people from various nations, including the descendants of Kedar, would come to worship and acknowledge God.
Although Paul’s mission was to bring the message of salvation to the Gentiles, his primary interactions were with the Greco-Roman world rather than specific Arab or Ishmaelite communities. However, there is no specific mention of Paul having a direct connection to the people of Kedar mentioned in those specific verses of Isaiah.
Connecting the Dots: Isaiah 60:7, the Hajj Ritual, and the Prophecy of Ishmael’s Descendants
Some believe that Isaiah 60, verse 7, is related to the Hajj ritual, and is the fulfillment of Hagar’s prophecy regarding Ishmael in Genesis 21, verse 18. How is this interpretation presented?
This is an interesting question. The interpretation that Isaiah 60, verse 7, is related to the Hajj ritual and the fulfillment of Hagar’s prophecy regarding Ishmael is based on the following assumptions:
The verse reads:
“All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you, The rams of Nebaioth will serve you; They will go up on My altar with acceptance, And I will glorify My glorious house.”
The flocks of Kedar and the rams of Nebaioth in Isaiah 60, verse 7, refer to the descendants of Ishmael, who was the son of Abraham and Hagar, and the ancestor of the Arabs. Kedar and Nebaioth were two of Ishmael’s sons (Genesis 25, verse 13).
The altar and the glorious house mentioned in Isaiah 60, verse 7, refer to the Kaaba. The Kaaba is a sacred building in Mecca that has a cube shape. Muslims believe it was constructed by Abraham and Ishmael. It serves as the direction of prayer and is also the destination for the Hajj pilgrimage.
The acceptance of the offerings on the altar and the glorification of the house in Isaiah 60, verse 7, refer to Muslims performing their Hajj, known as the Feast of Sacrifice. This sacrifice is performed in remembrance of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael and as a demonstration of submission to Allah’s will.
Furthermore, it is a prophecy of God’s acceptance and blessing of the Ishmaelites, who worship Him at the Kaaba in sincerity and submission, as He promised Hagar in Genesis 21, verse 18,
“I will make him into a great nation.”
This interpretation is presented by some Muslim scholars and commentators, who see it as a proof of the truth and validity of Islam and the Hajj ritual.
The Prophecy of Hagar and Its Fulfillment: A Comparative Analysis of Genesis 21:18 and Isaiah 60:7
There is a belief that the prophecy of Hagar in Genesis 21, verse 18, holds more weight than Isaiah 60, verse 7, which is linked to and completes the former. How is this understanding conveyed?
The belief that the prophecy of Hagar in Genesis 21, verse 18, holds more weight than Isaiah 60, verse 7, which is linked to and completes the former, can be understood through a close examination of the biblical texts and their contexts. Here’s how this understanding is conveyed:
1. Genesis 21, verse 18 (The Prophecy of Hagar).
This verse is part of the story where God speaks to Hagar after she and her son, Ishmael, are sent away by Abraham. Hagar is distraught, fearing for her son’s life in the desert.
The verse reads:
“Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.”
This prophecy directly promises that Ishmael will become a great nation. This is a foundational promise, as it assures Hagar of her son’s future and his importance in God’s plan.
2. Isaiah 60, verse 7 (Completion of the Prophecy).
This chapter of Isaiah deals with the future glory of Zion, depicting a time of great prosperity and the gathering of nations to honor God.
The verse reads:
“All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.”
Both Kedar and Nebaioth are descendants of Ishmael. This verse indicates the fulfillment and continuation of the promise given to Hagar, showing that Ishmael’s descendants will play a significant role in the future worship and honor of God.
3. Interconnection and Weight:
The prophecy in Genesis 21, verse 18, is seen as having “more weight” because it is the initial divine promise regarding Ishmael, establishing his importance and future. It is a direct communication from God to Hagar at a crucial moment. Isaiah 60, verse 7, is viewed as the completion or continuation of this promise. It confirms and elaborates on the fulfillment of God’s plan for Ishmael’s descendants, showing their eventual integration into the worship of God and their contribution to the glory of Zion.
The “weight” of Genesis 21, verse 18, lies in its foundational nature, while Isaiah 60, verse 7, provides a more detailed and expanded vision of the fulfillment of that initial promise.
This understanding is conveyed by recognizing that the original promise to Hagar is the cornerstone of the prophecy concerning Ishmael and his descendants.
The later prophetic vision in Isaiah builds upon this foundation, demonstrating the fulfillment of God’s promise in a broader and more comprehensive way. Therefore, while Isaiah 60, verse 7 is significant in its completion of the prophecy, Genesis 21, verse 18, holds a primary and foundational weight in the narrative.
Isaiah 54 and Hagar: Reassessing Paul’s Interpretation in Galatians 4
Some argue that Isaiah 54 refers to Hagar, with the term “barren” in verse 1 signifying Hagar’s land, the prophecy of which in Genesis 21:18 remains unfulfilled. Paul knew this and changed its interpretation to Sarah instead. How is their reasoning justified?
The argument that Isaiah 54 refers to Hagar rather than Sarah is based on a few key points:
1. The Use of “Barren” in Isaiah 54:1
- Isaiah 54:1 states: “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.
- Some argue that “barren” here refers metaphorically to Hagar’s land (often linked to the wilderness) rather than Sarah.
- Genesis 21:18 contains God’s promise to Hagar that Ishmael will become a great nation, which some see as unfulfilled. They suggest that Isaiah 54:1 could be referencing a future fulfillment of Hagar’s descendants prospering.
2. Paul’s Interpretation in Galatians 4:27
- Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:27, but he applies it to Sarah, linking it to the Christian message of freedom.
- He contrasts Hagar (the old covenant, slavery) with Sarah (the new covenant, freedom), seeing Sarah as the “barren” woman whose descendants (through Isaac and Christ) would become more numerous.
- Critics argue that Paul reinterpreted Isaiah 54:1 for his theological agenda, deviating from what they see as the original reference to Hagar.
3. Hagar as the “Desolate” One and Sarah as the Woman with a Husband
• The term “desolate” (שׁוֹמֵמָ֛ה, shamemah) in Isaiah 54:1 could be understood as describing Hagar’s situation after being cast out in Genesis 21. Her experience of abandonment mirrors the condition of the “desolate woman” in Isaiah 54:1.
In contrast, Sarah is understood as the Woman with a Husband, who ultimately bore Isaac within the covenant.
- Some suggest that, in its original context, Isaiah 54 speaks of restoration and an expansion of Hagar’s descendants, rather than Sarah’s.
4. Unfulfilled Promise in Genesis 21:18
- The promise to Hagar that Ishmael would become a great nation is seen as an ongoing prophecy.
- Those who argue for Hagar’s connection to Isaiah 54 suggest that Paul’s interpretation suppresses the potential application to Hagar’s descendants.
5. Isaiah 54:4-6 – Allusions to Hagar
These verses express themes of shame, abandonment, and restoration:
Verse 4:
“Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.”
This reflects Hagar’s experience of humiliation when she was cast out. God’s reassurance in Isaiah 54 mirrors His promise to care for Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21:17-18).
Verse 5:
“For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name.”
While Hagar was abandoned by Abraham, God Himself took the role of protector and provider for her, signifying divine restoration and care.
Verse 6:
“The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—a wife who married young, only to be rejected.”
This resonates with Hagar’s story of rejection and distress. Just as God assured Hagar that her son would thrive and become a great nation, Isaiah 54:6 portrays a compassionate God who calls back the rejected and restores their dignity.
Conclusion:
The argument that Isaiah 54 refers to Hagar relies on a specific interpretation of “barren” and the idea that Genesis 21:18 remains unfulfilled.
However, Paul’s reinterpretation aligns with a longstanding theological framework in which Isaiah 54 symbolizes Israel and, by extension, the new covenant. While some may argue that Paul altered the original intent, his reading follows common Jewish exegetical methods of reinterpreting scripture in new covenantal contexts.
ABRAHAMIC THEOLOGY 