Why does the Arab world claim to be the true children of Abraham and the rightful owners of the Holy Land?
The Arab world claims Abraham as their father through Ishmael, the natural son born to Hagar after Sarah proposed using a surrogate. Because the Koran, as understood here, assigns the covenant promises to Ishmael rather than Isaac, they conclude they are Abraham's true heirs and the rightful owners of the Holy Land.
Les teaches that God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son for fifty years, and that through that promised son would come the nation of Israel in fulfillment of the covenant promises. After waiting, Abraham grew impatient and delved back into pagan customs by using a surrogate mother. Sarah suggested their slave girl Hagar, Abraham agreed, and Ishmael was born as Abraham's natural son. Les explains that this fleshly origin produces the Middle East conflict still present today. The Arab world says it is Abraham's true children because the Koran, as he understands it, places the covenant promises with Ishmael instead of Isaac. Therefore they feel they are the rightful owners of the Holy Land. Paul also writes that not all Israel is Israel, and that because they are Abraham's seed they are not all children; rather, "in Isaac shall thy seed be called."