One of the most horrendous realities of Afghanistan’s takeover by the Taliban is how overnight the status of women completely changed. Afghanistan is a tribal culture, something we don’t understand in America. The Islamic culture has never valued women and yet during the years in which America helped keep the Taliban at bay, there were many women who pushed past the cultural barriers to become educated professionals. They are in extreme danger.

With the Taliban’s takeover, these women, who became successful teachers, businesswomen, judges and serving in other professions, are now in hiding. Many are also mothers, who have had to escape with their young children to anywhere they can find refuge to hide. In the snap of a finger their status was reduced to a non-entity as they are hunted down for slaughter.

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It is hard in America for us to fathom such a world in which women have no say, no voice and no value. But while women have become one of the primary targets of terrorism, former Muslim turned minister, Dr. Faisal Malick, says it is through a woman that God desires to deliver them. That “woman” is the Church.

Malick, was born in Pakistan to a Sunni Muslim family, and educated extensively in the ways of the Qur’an. He was “ambushed” by God in a business seminar years ago when attendees were given an opportunity to accept Christ at the conclusion. Enraged, Malick moved forward intent on attacking the speaker, but as he made his way to the front, he had a supernatural encounter with God in which Jesus was revealed to him as the Son of God.

An author, educator, and pastor, Malick has since spent years evangelizing Muslims. He continues that effort via the Convergence Conference (Oct. 29-31), which he refers to as an Ishmael and Isaac reunion where arch enemies–Muslims and Jews–come together to know Jesus. He has also been involved in ongoing efforts to rescue professional women in hiding in Afghanistan.

He refers to what we are seeing as the “spirit of Esau.” It is something we need to understand so that we know how to pray as this issue is now in our backyard. 

Ishmael, Esau and Terrorism

“Muslims find their origins from two major roots according to the Bible,” Malick began. “One is as descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s first son. The second are the descendants of Esau after he married Ishmael’s daughter. Their children and genealogy form the second root.

“The root of terrorism in Islam is found in Genesis 27:40-42.

“You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.”

Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you.”

“Isaac prophesied over Esau that he would live by the sword—which I refer to as the ‘spirit of Esau.’ The spirit of Esau expresses itself through the face of terrorism in Islam.  Malick continued, “We need to be clear though. It doesn’t mean that everyone who is a descendant of Esau is a terrorist. However, it is a spirit woven into their genealogy because of Esau’s hatred toward his brother Jacob.  The descendants of Esau embraced Islam as a means to live by the sword and express their hatred toward Jacob which in present day is seen through their desire to kill Israel—the present-day Jacob.

“When that hatred and unforgiveness are embraced in that genealogy, and they decide to live by the sword, the result is terrorism. Terrorism is 4000 years old and was birthed when Esau comforted himself with the thought that he would kill Jacob for stealing his birthright.”

Just as Esau didn’t value his birthright, according to Malick, terrorists don’t value theirs. As an example, he referenced suicide bombers who sell their natural birthright to enact violence in their effort to gain heaven. Esau’s unforgiveness and hatred of Jacob can still be seen through the genealogy now manifested in Muslim’s hatred of Israel.

You might say, but didn’t Jacob and Esau make peace?

“Yes, but it only lasted a season. Esau’s descendants continued in animosity against Israel,” Malick explained which continues today. “It is the same violent spirit that has been perpetuated through generations.”

The Ishmaelites, the other root of the origins of Muslims, were a little different. After Abraham told Hagar to take Ishmael and leave, He sent them on their way with nothing more than bread and water to wander in the desert and die.

We see what happened in Genesis 21:14-20.

Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So, she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

“While it was Hagar who cried out to God. It was the voice of the young boy, not the mother, God responded to,” Malick explained. “He told them not to fear and promised Hagar He would save them and make Ishmael a great nation, reconfirming His commitment to Abraham. Then God opened her eyes and she could see a well of water. This is significant,” Malick explained.

“This is a depiction of the promise God made to save the Muslim people and is a prophetic promise for today,” he continued. “He wants to give them a life-giving well of water.

“I believe we are in a parallel time when Muslim people are spiritually hungry and thirsty for a revelation of God. God wants to prophetically answer the cry of the Muslim heart and open their eyes to the well of living water—Jesus–so they may know the Father. He is responding to their cry of spiritual hunger.

“There are 1.8 billion Muslims all over the world. Remember God said He would also make them a great nation and has a plan and purpose for them as well,” Malick continued.

The name Ishmael means “God hears.” He was also the first person ever to be named before birth. So why did God name him? Because it was a sign of covenant that He would answer the spiritual cry of their heart.

“In 2004, God spoke to me that an entire generation of Muslims would come into the kingdom of God,” Malick continued. “He said five things would happen, the first has already begun. He said He would reveal Himself to them through dreams and visions. Many Muslims have reported how a man clothed in white with holes in his hands appears before them and says, ‘I am the way the truth and the life.’ Statistics reveal that 35% of all Muslims who come to Christ, come as a result of a vision or dream of Jesus,” Malick explained.

“Muslims believe that God stopped speaking to mankind (Muslims) after the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, died. So, it is significant that God is using dreams and visions to speak to Muslims.

As believers, we need to recognize that the promise that His Spirit will be poured out upon all mankind includes Muslims.

As America is now flooded with Muslim refugees here is what we can do:

1. Pray that God will awaken the cry deep in their heart.
2. God used a woman to save Ishmael. He wants to use another woman, aka the Church. Just as Hagar prayed and interceded for Ishmael’s life, likewise God is awakening the Church to intercede so their hearts can see Him. Let us join in intercession and be part of that answer.
3. Pray that God would expose the spirit of Esau and the face of terrorism in Islam that has camouflaged their destiny.
4. Pray that the Church will no longer be deaf to the cry of the Muslim’s heart. He loves us all the same.
5. Contact your senator or congressman and ask them to get involved in the ongoing rescue of the Muslim people now being brutalized at the hands of the Taliban.

(For additional information on the spirit behind Islam and understanding how to reach the Muslim people read, “Here Comes Ishmael,” by Dr. Faisal Malick. For information on the Oct 29-31 Convergence Conference go to: www.plumblinenetwork.com/events.)

Please share this article so many, many intercessors can be praying in accordance with God’s will for Muslims.

ABOUT:  Karen Hardin is a literary agent and writer. She is the author of “Infected: How to Stop the Global Spread of Rage, Deception and Insanity” and “God’s Justice after Injustice.” Her work has been published in USA Today, Western Journal, World Net Daily, Intercessors for America, Charisma, CBN.com and more. She is also the co-founder of the city-by-city.org prayer movement to take back our cities and nation.