A Clear Distinction.Galatians 4:26-31.
Dear Royal Priesthood,
Today we look at the second part of the Types that Hagar the slave woman, Sarah the free woman and their sons – Ishmael, born of the flesh and Isaac, born of the promise, represent.
Exceptional (vv. 26-28). Jerusalem in verse 25 referred to the seat of the Jewish legal authority and was seen as a center of bondage. But here, Jerusalem is a different one, described as the “Jerusalem above”. Just as the Jerusalem below corresponds to Hagar and Mt. Sinai, symbols of bondage, so the Jerusalem above corresponds to Sarah, mother of the free. Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1, partly alluding to the barrenness of Sarah and partly indicating that one can be barren and yet have many children. Abraham is the father of all who believes, whether he has a physical son or not. Paul himself had numerous spiritual children, although he was single and childless.
He concludes with an emphatic statement that we are children of promise, just as Isaac was.
Exploitation (v. 29). The next part of the symbolism depicts Ishmael, the son born according to the flesh as the persecutor of the son born “according to the Spirit” (Genesis 21:9), just as the propagators of legalism were persecuting the believers who based their lives entirely on the promise of salvation in Christ. Paul is saying to the people of faith – pay little attention to your suffering. It is confirmation that you are the children of promise.
Expulsion (v. 30). But the mocking son of the slave woman did not have the last laugh, did he? He and the mother were cast out because they did not have a share in the inheritance. The law has no share in the inheritance of the saints! Those who cling to the law exclude themselves from being heirs of the Kingdom. It should make each one of us think twice about what we believe.
Expectation (v. 31). Paul reiterates the fact of our liberty in Christ with the statement that “we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” The simple expectation is that we will live as free people and not as slaves. It is inconceivable that a free person would want to submit to slavery, while well knowing that there is no benefit accruing from being in bondage. It is not too much to expect that we would choose freedom, is it?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.