Brain exercise

So, my church (plus a few, whom I adore) is doing a women's Bible study on the book of Daniel. It's a Beth Moore study - Beth is incredibly gifted and I've done a couple other studies of hers at various points in my life.

This one on the book of Daniel - whew. All I have to say is IT MAKES MY BRAIN HURT. The names, places, prophecies, WOW. Some of the stories are familiar and others I don't think I've ever read before. Anyway, there are a few things that theologically I disagree with Beth about, namely her view of the nation of Israel (as it is today) and the pre-Millenial, pre-tribulation teaching. It's not a huge deal and certainly within the body of Christ there is room for disagreement on such things. I'll admit to approaching the study with a bit of trepidation because of those things, but have been pleasantly surprised to find that it hasn't been as painful as I thought it would be.

One thing this study (along with an awesome Bible study at church tonight) has done is cement in my heart a desire to see peace between Jews and Muslims. Yes, I realize this a conflict that goes back to Ishmael and Isaac - deep-rooted and plenty of hurt on both sides. Yes, I realize that I am not going to be the solution. Personally I think both sides (and heck, Christians too, for that matter) have forgotten what it means to act like God's people, and I think it grieves God's heart to see two groups of people whom He has promised to be great nations constantly warring. My heart is specifically for Muslims. This is not to discount the special place in my heart for the Jewish people - heck, my Christ was a Jewish rabbi, and if I had to pick a faith other than the one I have, I'd be Jewish. And, I believe the horrible things visited on the Jews throughout the centuries have been well-documented: slavery in Egypt, Herod's slaughter of the innocents, the Maccabean revolt, and in more recent times the Holocaust (that's enough horror for a few millenia, methinks). But I think that - especially in this day - we Christians overlook the (military, humanitarian, and political) persecutions Muslims have faced in our God's name.

The study we did at church tonight focused on the original story of Hagar's visitation by 'an angel of the Lord' (possibly the pre-incarnate Christ?) and it moved me to tears. As many times as I've heard that story, it hit me hard tonight. To think that a slave woman pregnant with the baby of someone else's husband would be one of the first to have a theophany. To think that not only does God care enough to give her baby a name too, the name he gives that baby means 'God hears.' God promised that that baby would be blessed and be a great nation as well.

So, it gives me hope and comfort to know that - because God does not change - God still hears the prayers of Jews and Muslims worldwide today. God hears the prayers of Jewish and Muslim fathers who have to dig children from rubble. God hears the mothers whose sons and daughters have fought, killed, and died for lies perpetuated by the government of each 'side.' God hears the cries of children frightened by rocket attacks, and God hears the cries of children whose houses have been razed to the ground. The God who loves all and does not play favorites...He hears. Ishmael.