"Maalouf does an excellent job incorporating cultural considerations into his arguments...This work furnishes a needed corrective to the common view of the current Middle East situation and will prove to be critical in getting the Church back to a more complete understanding of how God is working in the region. Carefully considered, the book will give the reader a more comprehensive and less one-dimensional understanding of how we should relate to Arabs today. Consideration of Dr. Maalouf's points will hopefully enhance Christian outreach to the Arab people. With a clearer understanding of the Arabs' role in God's prophetic plan more Christians hopefully will develop a love for the children of Ishmael. And as always, that love will lead to positive action (R. Todd Bradley The Criswell College)

Previously published under the title "Arabs in the shadow of Israel : the unfolding of God's prophetic plan for Ishmael's line" in 2003