No accidents, no mistakes
God’s plans are perfect and transcend all peoples and generations. Tough times bring temptation, temptation to take away our pain and leave us in peace by trusting in a substitute for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul uses the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac to show us God’s perfect plans and how careful we need to be not to reject or resist them. The temptations can be subtle and so deceitful, we need to be humble, patient, persevere through persecution, rooted in Scripture and constantly reminded of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no substitute or additive to God’s grace through Him.
Scripture
Galatians 4:21-31 ESV Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? [22] For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. [23] But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. [24] Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. [25] Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. [26] But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. [27] For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” [28] Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. [29] But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. [30] But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” [31] So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Bible Study Questions
To the Teaching and the Testimony
Not everyone who “knows the Bible” knows the truth or has a relationship with God through Christ. False teachers had used the Bible to argue that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was not enough and that it needed to be added to. Paul counters their so called expertise in the law by teaching with examples from the very same law. Why is it so critical that we as Christians read and know our Bibles?
Galatians 4:21 - ESV Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
Acts 17:11 ESV Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Isaiah 8:19-20 ESV And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? [20] To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
The conflict between the Flesh and the Promise
Genesis 12-21 recounts the history of Abraham and his children. God made a covenant with Abraham when he was 75 years old. He made unconditional promises to him and reconciled Abraham to Himself by grace. Abraham believed God and God counted that faith as righteousness. God promised Abraham a son, but Abraham had to wait 25 years for the promise to be fulfilled, and he grew impatient. He and his wife managed 10 years before taking things into their own hands, and having a child through an Egyptian female servant named Hagar. This was a legal and socially acceptable solution, but what was the result as far as Abraham and Sarah’s relationship was concerned?
Galatians 4:22-23 - ESV For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.
Genesis 16:5 ESV And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!”
Two Covenants cannot be combined
Hagar’s life is used by God as a spiritual lesson that would be fully realised centuries later. She was Abraham’s second wife just like grace came before the law. She was removed after she brought conflict just as the law was added to expose sin and convict us and then removed in favour of grace. She was a slave, just like we were enslaved to the law before grace. Hagar wasn’t meant to bear Abraham’s child, just like the law cannot save us, only grace can. Ishmael was a wild uncontrollable man, just like the old human nature (before grace) is always in conflict with God and cannot be controlled by the law. Hagar was cast out and never married again, just like the law was fulfilled by Christ and never imposed on any other people. Trying to add the law to the Gospel, is like trying to replace Sarah with Hagar again.
Galatians 4:24-26 - ESV Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
It is written, it will be
Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1 to show that God had always planned to bring in more children into His family. God has always had a plan for His Church and it is different from His plan for Israel, even though we will all be made part of the same family under Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:27 - ESV For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
Isaiah 54:1 ESV “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the LORD.
Persecution follows true faith
Isaac’s life story serves as a deep spiritual illustration. He was born by God’s power, brought joy, grew and was weaned and then was persecuted. Ismael was born naturally and brought conflict and division, especially when Isaac was born.
Galatians 4:28-29 - ESV Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
2 Timothy 3:12-17 ESV Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, [13] while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it [15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
No inheritance
The law and the old nature want to persecute us and bring us back into slavery. The Galatians were probably told that they would be rejected if they didn’t add the law to the Gospel, but in truth it’s the other way around. What happens when we try in our strength to change our nature or the law?
Galatians 4:30 - ESV But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
Galatians 4:9 ESV But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
The freedom generation
Christian freedom doesn’t mean that we don’t obey God’s law, it changes the motivation and the means by which we obey His perfect law. Having forgiveness and being eternally saved from the wrath of God means that we are free to obey Him out of love and gratitude for what He’s already done, rather than out of selfish ambition to try to manipulate Him. A slave obeys because they are forced to, a child obeys out of love, respect and gratitude to a loving Father. A slave works in their own strength, a child is empowered and taught by a loving Father, as He send His Holy Spirit to teach and empower us.
Galatians 4:31 - ESV So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
1 Peter 2:15-16 ESV For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. [16] Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
John 8:34-36 ESV Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. [35] The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Romans 8:12-14 ESV So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. [13] For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.