Text: Gal 4: 22 – 32
The Historical Facts
Perhaps the easiest way to grasp the historical account is to trace briefly Abraham’s experiences as recorded in Gen 12 through 21. Using his age as our guide, we will trace the events on which Paul is basing his argument for Christian liberty.
Perhaps the easiest way to grasp the historical account is to trace briefly Abraham’s experiences as recorded in Gen 12 through 21. Using his age as our guide, we will trace the events on which Paul is basing his argument for Christian liberty.
75 – Abraham is called by God to go to Canaan; and God promises him many descendants (Gen 12:1-9). Abraham and his wife, Sarah, wanted children, but Sarah was barren. God was waiting until both of them were “as good as dead” before He would perform the miracle of sending them a son (Rom 4:16-25).
85 – The promised son has not yet arrived, and Sarah becomes impatient She suggests that Abraham marry Hagar, her maid, and try to have a son by her.
N/B: This act was legal in that society, but it was not part of the will of God for them.
Abraham followed her suggestion and married Hagar (Gen 16:1-3).
N/B: This act was legal in that society, but it was not part of the will of God for them.
Abraham followed her suggestion and married Hagar (Gen 16:1-3).
86 – Hagar gets pregnant and Sarah gets jealous! Things are so difficult in the home that Sarah throws Hagar out. But the Lord intervenes, sends Hagar back, and promises to take care of her and her son. When Abraham is 86, the son is born, and he calls him Ishmael (Gen 16:4-16).
99 – God speaks to Abraham and promises again that he will have a son by Sarah and says to call his name Isaac. Later, God appears again and reaffirms the promise to Sarah as well (see Gen 17-18).
100 – The son is born (Gen 21:1-7). They name him Isaac (“laughter”) as commanded by God. But the arrival of Isaac creates a new problem in the home: Ishmael has a rival. For fourteen years, Ishmael has been his father’s only son, very dear to his heart. How will Ishmael respond to the presence of a rival?
103 – It was customary for the Jews to wean their Children at about the age of three, and to make a great occasion of it. At the feast, Ishmael starts to mock Isaac (Gen 21:8ff) and to create trouble in the home. There is only one solution to the problem, and a costly one at that: Hagar and her son have to go. With a broken heart, Abraham sends his son away, because this is what the Lord tells him to do (Gen 21:9-14).
On the surface, this story appears to be nothing more than a tale of a family problems, but beneath the surface are meanings that carry tremendous spiritual power. Abraham, the two wives, and the two sons represent spiritual realities; and their relationships teach us important lessons.
The Spiritual Truths (Gal. 4:24-29)
Paul begins with the two sons, Ishmael and Isaac (Gal 4:22-23), and explains that they illustrate our two births: the physical birth that makes us sinners and the spiritual birth that makes us the children of God. As you think about this, and read Gen 21:1-12, you discover some wonderful spiritual truths about your salvation.
The Old Covenant The New Covenant
Law Grace
Hagar the slave Sarah the free woman
Ishmael, conceived Isaac, conceived miraculously by the
after the flesh Holy Spirit
after the flesh Holy Spirit
Earthly Jerusalem Heavenly Jerusalem, which is free
in bondage
in bondage
