Ishmael's blessing/Our curse

I taught two Sunday's in a row recently about Ishmael in the Bible. Tracing his story starting in Genesis 16 it's a quick read through to 25 where the trail cools. His story, and that of his descendants are of many firsts in the Bible.

1. The mysterious Angel of the Lord (possibly Christ himself), first appeared to Hagar while she was pregnant with Ishmael... Hagar knew God by some of the first names he is noted for in the Bible as 'The God who Sees' and 'The God who Hears'
2. Ishmael was blessed by God, and the first to receive a blessing of lineage and offspring.
3. Ishmael was the first born son of Abram, and God honored Abram's prayer 'Oh that Ishmael might live before you!'
4. In IS 42 it is prophesied that the tribes of Kedar and Sheba will worship God with acceptance. It is rare for tribes to be pointed out in this manner... Kedar is the ancestor of the Muslim prophet Mohammad.
5. First to worship - It has been discussed in other places that descendants of Ishmael were likely the first to come and give gifts from the East in Matthew 1 prepared forehand by Daniel's teaching hundreds of years previous as the chief of the Wise men of the East.
6. First to hear - It may be that God has some kind of priority for Ishmael's line for Paul spent his first 3 years in ministry in Arabia (see Gal 1:17), the city of the Nabateans, who were descendants of Ishmael.

It is my contention that given the biblical firsts and all the significant events surrounding Ishmael, shouldn't we as Christians be more attentive to his descendants today? Instead we believe myths like God cursed Ishmael, or that all the trouble in the Middle East today is because of Ishmael... this is not found in the Bible. The NIV translates Gen 16 wrongly when it says 'he shall live in hostility towards his brothers'... the original language is talking about geography (to the East). Other versions indicate 'over against' (ESV) which is better.

The hatred of Muslims today, especially Arabs has got to stop if we are to get in line with the Bible, and place of Ishmael in God's plan. God loves all nations, especially the descendants of Abraham, Issac AND Ishmael.