ISHMAEL Part 3

“There isn’t any more water.”

Hagar’s words sunk like a heavy stone into Ishmael’s semi-conscious mind. Every Bedouin knew that without water, survival in the desert was impossible. Lying faint under a bush he began to cry, the sobs breaking out from the depths of his being, cracking open the hard shell that had formed around his heart.  Pent up anger, frustration and bitterness spilled out. He ran his tongue over his parched lips and tasted the salt from his tears. Wearily he closed his eyes to his hostile surroundings.

He woke later to feel a trickle of water running down his throat. He swallowed and tried to focus on what his mother was saying.

“God heard you,” she whispered. “He heard you crying and showed me where to get water.  He said that he will make a great nation from your descendants. Take courage Ishmael. I know for sure that God is with you.  

Yes, God was with Ishmael but his bitterness did not permit him to enjoy His presence.

*** *** ***

Ishmael grew up and became an expert archer. He no longer shot imaginary arrows into the sky to put out the stars. Every arrow that hit its mark strengthened the root of bitterness that not only filled his heart, but like a malignant tumor spread through his being and controlled his life. His mother remembered the angel’s words: He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility towards all his brothers.  

*** *** ***

Standing in the door of his tent, Ishmael looked towards the horizon at the cloud of dust.  Visitors? No one ever visited Ishmael, a solitary man isolated in his own emotional desert. Not even his twelve adult children felt at home with him. The cloud of dust grew larger and so did Ishmael's curiosity as he made out the forms of two camels. 

“Uncle! Uncle Ishmael! It’s me, your nephew. I’m Esau!”

Esau?  Isaac’s son? Ishmael wiped the sweat from his brow; his heart was beating fast as he swallowed hard. But his fear had no grounds. Within a very short time the two men found the link that united their souls. They had something in common; they understood one another. For the first time in his life Ishmael could express his bitterness to someone who understood him completely.

*** *** ***

Many years went by. The two brothers, Isaac and Ishmael found themselves side by side in front of their father Abraham’s grave. Death, that inevitable, bitter fact, had united them for a brief moment. Did they look at each other? Did they speak to one another? Did they attempt reconciliation? I don’t know. But what is certain is that to this day Isaac’s descendents and Ishmael’s descendents are still in disagreement. The chain of bitterness stretches on from generation to generation. The Jews and the Arabs are still enemies in the twenty first century.

And how did Ishmael’s life end?

He died without receiving God’s promised blessing, without enjoying His presence; he never released and handed over to God that heavy burden of reactions to life’s adverse circumstances.

He died as he was born: bitter.