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The Mideast conflict is more than a struggle between Jacob and Esau

I have often heard the Mideast conflict is struggle between the descendants of Esau and Jacob. It's not that simple. The conflict involves more ethnic groups, countries and religious groups.

Abraham had a two sons; Ishmael and Jacob. Jacob had two sons; Jacob and Esau. Genesis 12:10 says, "And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land." Before Ishmael was born, Egypt existed. Genesis 16:11 says, "And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." Today we still have the descendent's of Ishmael and their hand is against everyone. Part of the reason for the struggle today is that Ishmael's hand is against the Jews.

Syria also existed before Ishmael and Esau were born. Genesis 14:15 mentions Damascus, a city in Syria. Rebekah's brother Laban is mentioned in Genesis 24:29 and Genesis 25:20 says Laban was a Syrian. Babylon was first noted in Genesis 10:10. From there we get all of the nations which dispersed. Babylon was built by Nimrod the son of Cush. Cush is a nation who will fight with other countries in the battle mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Of Israel in the last days, Isaiah 11:14 says, "But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them." These nations have not died today. Genesis 10:10 mentions Casluhim out of whom came Philistim where we get the some of the Palestinians today. Lot was the father of two nations, the Moabites and the Ammonites as we find in Genesis 19:37-38: "And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day." The Moabites have become Jordanians and or west bank Palestinians today. The Ammonites also fit into this category. Iran is a country made of up Persians and other ethnic backgrounds. Finally, some of the Mideast community comes from Ishmael the brother of Isaac and uncle of Jacob who became Israel. Egyptians, Iranians, Syrians, Palestinians, some Jordanians, descendants of Cush and Ishmael are separate from Esau who became Edom. Those who oppose Israel today are vast group but and are not all from Esau. This is not a struggle of just Esau versus Jacob.
The word "Arab" does not describe all Muslims. "Muslim" does not describe all Arabs. Neither "Arabs" nor "Muslims" describes all people in the Mideast before Ishmael and Esau were born as Egypt was already a country.

The Bible tells of more than one future conflict in the Mideast Many think Psalm 83 describes a conflict between Israel and its neighbors. The end of Isaiah 14 tells of trouble for the Philistines in Gaza who are not related to Esau. Isaiah 17 is regarding the destruction of Damascus, who again, is not part of Esau. A major war is detailed in Ezekiel 38 where some of the major players; Gog and Persia have nothing to do with Esau. The wars against Israel are more than just a desire of the descendants of Esau to destroy the descendants of Jacob. It is an effort of the devil to destroy any reminder to the world of God, his chosen people and a savior who will forgive the sins of any who call upon him.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas, the Philistines, attacked Israel. They have drawn in physical support Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Iran. For the most part, these fighters are not from Esau.