Missio Dei and Children of Abraham

This image is from the blog of Austin Garrett Ward. I do not know him and do not know his blog, except for an entry called "expressive theology" some time ago.
       This photo was part of that entry. It is indeed expressive ... beautiful to me.
       Next Sunday in the Isaac-Ishmael class we are speaking about "The Mission of God and the Children of Abraham." The mission of God in Latin is "Missio Dei."
       I have a couple of first thoughts on this as I begin preparing this week:
       First, Jews and Muslims are integral to the Missio Dei, in different ways. Jews have a clear calling that the nations will be blessed through them. The Muslims play a significant part in the unfolding of the historical drama. We are witnessing it in the Mideast and North Africa right now.
       Second, the Missio Dei is all about the Kingdom of God, it is about a robust theology of the Kingdom. This is of greater importance than a theology of Israel, or of Palestine, or of the Church. Karl Barth and George Eldon Ladd were right in calling Christians to Kingdom theology.
       Third, the Missio Dei is to seek and to safe that which is lost. See Luke 15 for parables about this. This vision of God's seems to me to be for "the nations," (ta ethne) without exception. I am not saying that all ways lead to God, or that everyone for all time will be saved. What I am saying is that the Missio Dei is not limited by ethnicity, religious upbringing, or socio-economic status. Awesome news!