Seeds of turmoil : the biblical roots of the inevitable crisis in the Middle East / Bryant Wright.

Includes bibliographical references.

Part One. The Founders of the Conflict -- 1. One Man's Decision / Abraham -- 2. An Everlasting Possession -- The Holy Land -- 3. Two Women Who Shaped History / Hagar -- 4. Sibling Rivalry / Ishmael -- 5. Playing Favorites / Jacob -- 6. Reaping What You Sow -- Jacob and the Birth of Israel -- 7. A Miraculous Restoration -- The State of Israel and Neighboring Arab Nations -- 8. Israel's Greatest Threat Today -- Iran -- Part Two. Conflicting Perspectives -- 9. The Jewish Perspective -- 10. The Islamic Perspective -- 11. The Christian Perspective.

"War stories, terrorists' threats, and scenes of wreckage from the Middle East inhabit television screens and e-news daily. As experts and dignitaries from around the globe try to solve the Palestinian dilemma, violence continues to reign." "What makes this area so volatile? Why is the land so precious? Is there any hope for peace?" "In Seeds of Turmoil, pastor Bryant Wright leads readers on a journey beyond the headlines to uncover the biblical roots of the unrest in the modern-day promised land of Palestine. With faith-filled insights, scriptural narratives, and detailed maps, he illuminates the true origins and key events of the conflict between the Arabs and Jews and reveals how the turmoil, the incredible growth, and the power of the Islamic religion are the fulfillment of prophecy from long ago" "From God's promise to Abraham and Jacob's deception to Isaac, to the Balfour Declaration and the fall of Saddam Hussein, the stories are woven against the tapestry of God's overall plan. Readers will finally grasp the underlying causes behind the conflict, understanding that no matter how grim the situation gets, God's will for His people will ultimately prevail." ""Bryant takes a long look back and carefully uncovers a decision Abraham made and how it formed the basis for today's Middle East conflict."---Andy Stanley, Senior pastor, North Point Community Church, and author of The Grace of God" ""Bryant helps us to see that, despite appearances, the world is not spinning crazily out of control but is slowly realizing God's plan for the nations."---William Lane Craig, PhD, Research professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology" ""It is clear, concise, scholarly, and inspired."---Alton Brown, Food Network star, author, speaker, and host of "Good Eats"" "On May 14, 1918, Israel was reborn as a nation. The Arab Muslim world was outraged, and five Arab Muslim nations around Israel immediately declared war on Israel to drive the Jews into the sea. Despite this threat, the Jewish population survived and grew, withstanding a host of attacks throughout the decades. Half a century later, the nation of Israel a small area about the size of New Jersey that is home to nearly 6 million Jews, surrounded by approximately 400 million Arab Muslims is thriving amid constant threats and hostility." "What else can explain this small country's resiliency except the hand of God? We need only to look back to the covenant that God made with a nomad named Abraham to understand how this persecuted nation continues to rise from the ashes again and again. Inside this book, Bryant Wright reveals the roots of the Middle East conflict and presents the opposing perspectives of the world's three most influential faiths, all of which claim Abraham as their father: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam." "Through Israel's woeful tale, we see a God that continues to pursue His chosen nation, despite her sins and unbelief. Retelling the story of the patriarchs, Wright peels back the layers to find the source of much of Israel's pain, stating that "when we take matters into our own hands and try to manipulate God's will to get what we want, there can be long-term negative consequences." The result can be misery. Ask Sarah and Hagar. Ask Jacob or Esau. Or better yet, just look at the Middle East."--BOOK JACKET.