Prayer Fuel
THE BEDOUIN
The Bedouin are traditionally Arab nomads who live in the desert. They are becoming more settled yet still value their freedom and independence above all else. They live throughout the Middle East and Arabia. The Bedouin of the Sinai say they originally came from the Arabian Peninsula. Their culture is remarkably similar to that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who could well have been Bedouin.
The Sinai is home to more than 20 Bedouin tribes, each with its own territory. The tribes of the North are very different from that of the South for they have not been exposed to foreign tourists. They tend to be more Islamic and rebellious resulting in more conflict with the Egyptian government. They are often excluded from responsible jobs leading to more exclusion and resentment. Some of their communities are known for drug, people and arms smuggling. They have been largely responsible for the trade tunnels between the Sinai and Gaza. A few Bedouins have become exceedingly rich and powerful through such trade while others endure the harsh economic landscape.
The tribes of South Sinai are more peaceful and content though they can resent it when Egyptian business and bureaucracy encroach on their land and freedoms. The South Sinai tribes are made up of the Alegat, Awlad, Hamda, Garasha, Jebelya, Muzeina, Said, Sowalha and Tarabin.
The Bedouins are use to a simple lifestyle in harmony with their natural environment. They know how to conserve vegetation, trees, animals and water within the desert. The communities cooperate to prevent overgrazing and the cutting of trees. Even when individuals become wealthy from tourism and trade, they often choose to live a traditional lifestyle in a traditional house with clear gender roles.
Marriage, children and solidarity with the wider extended family are high values among the Bedouin. Marriage difficulties and divorce are unfortunately common. Both women and men can initiate divorce, after which the woman returns to her birth family. Children are free to roam where they like, but once past puberty girls are often restricted to the home. However in tourist places like Dahab young girls and older women move in small groups selling handicrafts and tea in public places.
It is only a matter of time before traditional societies need to interact with the outside world. For the Bedouin, their interaction with the Israelis during their occupation of the Sinai and later Western, then Egyptian tourists, led to new opportunities for education, health care jobs and insights into the wider world. Along with the benefits came vices such as pornography, drugs and casual sex.
In the book of Genesis, we read how the angel of the LORD appeared to Abraham’s Egyptian maidservant Hagar twice. The first time the Lord asked her where she was had come from and where she was going? Hagar answered that she was running away from her mistress Sarai. Then the angel of the LORD then told her to ‘’Go back to your mistress and submit to her.’’ The angel added. ‘’I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.’’ The angel also said to her:
“You are now with child and you will have a son
You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery.
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand will be against him,
and he will live in hostility towards all his brothers.’’[1]
The second time Hagar found herself in trouble in the desert was after being expelled from the family after Ishmael had been mocking Isaac. As she and Ismael sobbed, the angel of God heard their crying, called from heaven and reassured her that he was still with the boy and make him into a great nation.[2]
Reflection
Last week we spent a few days trekking in the mountains and valleys with five Jabaliya Bedouins. Each evening, we took it in turns to share our stories around the fire. Badri the lead guide shared how his father had left the family when they were very young and how hard it had been on his mother. In this heart he made a vow to have only one wife and to never neglect her or his children. He even has a heart to look after other struggling families with no fathers.
Prayer
Please thank the Lord for these precious, noble, and gentle people.
May they know that they are seen and heard by the Lord.
May they discover healing and forgiveness for rejection and hatred between them, Israel, and Egypt.
May they be reconciled to work together with your people for peace and prosperity.
May they work together to make the deserts fruitful in your name.
[1] Genesis 16:9-12.
[2] Genesis 21:9-20.
[3] https://www.thetorah.com/article/abraham-visits-ishmael-and-his-wives-between-jewish-and-islamic-tradition
