respecting Ishmael-" He shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren "-which requires further notice. Whether this be understood of his brethren on his father's side, the sons of Abraham by Sarah and Keturah, or of those who may be considered his brethren on his mother's side, the Egyptians, the prophecy was literally fulfilled; for the tribes who sprang from him, dwelt in Arabia, having Egypt on the west, and Canaan on the north, whilst to the south of the settlements of Ishmael lay those of the descendants of the sons of Keturah. Or if, as some suppose, the prediction had reference to Ishmael as an individual, then, probably, it was fulfilled in his pitching his tent in an elevated position, and requiring his neighbours to do him homage: whence it is said of him, that "he died in the presence of all his brethren." He attained, we may imagine, considerable authority, and was acknowledged by his people as their Chief, or Sheik. A bold and daring youth, he grew up to be a still more daring man; and, foremost, perhaps, in every adventure in the field, he won for himself the estimation, and commanded, at the same time, the allegiance, of the tribes around him. Yet let us hope that he did not forget that Being whose providence had preserved him whilst yet a youth. The age in which he lived was one in which the light of truth shone but dimly on the human mind; nor did Ishmael belong to that branch of Abraham's family to whom were given "the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants;" yet he was not therefore cut off from the mercy of God, but was, doubtless, the object of His care and love. He then, as well as Isaac, may have become an heir, if not of the earthly, yet of the heavenly, Canaan; and may now be one of its inhabitants, as well as his more favoured brother. What shall be the future history of Ishmael's descendants, who can tell? The prophecies respecting them do not, however, necessarily imply that they will always be a race “opposed to every man." They may, and doubtless will, receive the Gospel; and its benign and purifying influences will tame their wildness, and remould their character. They are now Mohammedans; but the Crescent is on the wane, and the system of the False Prophet is doomed to fall before the advancement of the Saviour's Cross. Unlikely as it may appear to some, even the nomad tribes of the desert shall one day be gathered into the fold of the Great Shepherd. For what says the voice of prophecy to the church? "The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. 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."* Never yet has this prophecy been fulfilled. It remains, therefore, to be accomplished; and, in our prayers for the evangelization of the world, we should not forget the roaming Arab,-the descendant in a long, long line of the youth whom God remembered in the wilderness. For nothing is too hard for the Lord Almighty; and faith pierces the distant future, and sees the "mountain of the Lord's house established in the top of the mountains," and not the Jew * Isaiah lx. 6, 7. only, but the Gentile, ay, even the wandering Ishmaelite, attracted towards it. It is said that the creed of the False Prophet sits very loosely on the Bedouins, and that there are very few of them who can read the Koran; so that, perhaps, their conversion to Christianity would be less difficult than some imagine. Dr. Robinson is of opinion that were Missionaries to go amongst them, who could speak their language, they would be received with kindness, and would, in a little while, gain over them considerable influence. Hail, then, to the day when the Sun of Righteousness shall shine where now the Crescent casts its waning light, and all the inhabitants of the wilderness shall bow to the sway of CHRIST JESUS THE LORD! London: R. Needham, Printer, Paternoster-Row. |