Let me end by citing Hosea 6: 6 - For in loving-kindness I have taken delight, and in the knowledge of God rather than in whole burnt offerings (blood sacrifices, like Jesus). Isaiah 43:11 - I am God and beside me there is no Savior. The world of positive ideas IS your savior. And Mark 8:36 - What does it profit a man to gain the whole world (to become rich in things) yet forfeit his soul (morals, ethics, and loving kindness). As it is written, a person cannot serve two masters, choose Life!
Conclusion: The story of Ismael/Isaac describes the relationship between the mind and the body. The body, of course, is blamed for everything negative but the fact is that the body is simply a slave to the mind, meaning that it does nothing except what the mind dictates it does. Without the right perspective, the story of Ismael and Isaac are worthless. The wrong perspective about this story has wreaked spiritual havoc on the masses. The fruit from the trees of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are rotten to the core. We cannot put new wine in old skins. The only viable form of government is theocracy founded on the pillars of Love, Truth, and Right. We ought not strive to be perfect. We must strive to be good. Because God IS Good. We must be at one with our Maker. We must achieve atonement.