This document provides biblical background for ministry to Muslims. It outlines key passages showing God's love and promises regarding Abraham, Ishmael, and their descendants. These include God's promises to make Abraham a blessing to all peoples, calling Ishmael his son and promising many descendants, and prophecies that Ishmael's sons like Kedar would one day worship God, believed by some to refer to modern Saudis and Muhammad. The document emphasizes that Jesus died for Muslims and commands Christians to reach all nations, and that God's promise of salvation in Revelation includes people from every tribe and tongue.

1. BIBLICAL BACKGROUND FOR MINISTRY TO MUSLIMS
GENESIS 12:1-3 Abraham is called to be a blessing to peoples in the earth
GENESIS 15:1-5 Abraham is concerned for an heir – God gives a tremendous promise
GENESIS 15:6 Abraham believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness
GENESIS 16 -- Mistakes made by the family of God
* Sarah blames God for her barreness - offers Hagar as a surrogate childbearer (Gen 16:1-2)
* Abraham accepts his wife's bad counsel (Gen 16:2-3)
* Hagar complied (Gen 16:4a)
* Pregnant Hagar despises her mistress (Gen 16:4b)
* Sarah blames Abraham (v.5)
* Abraham abandons Hagar (v.6)
* Sarah mistreats Hagar (v.6), and Hagar runs away (v.6)
GENESIS 16 -- God's unfaltering love for Hagar (the mother of the "father" of Islam!!!)
* God sends an angel to save her (v.7)
* God promises uncountable descendants (v.10)
* God names her son "Ishmael", meaning GOD HEARS (v.11)
* Hagar saw the Lord! (v.13)
GENESIS 17 -- 13 YEARS LATER
* Abraham prays that Ishmael may be blessed (v.18)
* God says "no" (to Messianic lineage, covenant) but yes to great blessing! (v.19-21)
* Abraham and Ishmael circumcised on the same day! (v.23) (Circ. not in the Quran)
GENESIS 21 -- 1 YEAR LATER - Family "breakup"
* Laughter born to Abraham and Sarah (v.3)
* The weaning feast (v.8), and Ishmael's sin (mocking) (v.9)
* Furious Sarah kicks Hagar and Ishmael out (v.10)
* Abraham distressed; God counsels him (v.11-12)
* God hears Ishmael's cry (v.17)
* God saves the lives of Hagar and Ishmael. God was with Ishmael as he grew up! (v.20-21)
GENESIS 25: 13-18 -- Geneology of Ishmael
Nebaioth, Kedar - (both included in Is. 60's harvest vision 1200 yrs later)
Isaiah 60:7,10 and 42:11-12 Prophesy that the sons of Kedar will worship God. Ethnologists
believe the descendents of Kedar are none other than the modern day Saudi Arabians, and
that 600 years ater Christ, Mohammed was a descendant of Kedar.
Jesus died for Muslims -- John 3:16
Jesus commands us to reach them -- Matt 28:18-20
God’s promise in Revelation includes Muslims! – Rev. 5:9, 7:9