March 18, 2006

“This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, “REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.” Gal 4:24-29

What spiritual lessons do we learn from the two women in this story?

The difference between bond and free is enormous. It is the difference between being a slave to our sinful nature and having the freedom of the Spirit to live under the Lordship of Christ. The first causes us to serve ourselves, our will, and our desires. The second submits our lives to the God of the universe; He is the one who knows what is best, what is for our good, and what will serve His ultimate purposes.

Abraham married Hagar outside of the will of God. Abraham already had a wife, and God had promised an heir through that wife. Hagar brought confusion and chaos to the family. It was inevitable that conflict would arise between the two women, and jealousy would naturally be there as soon as Ishmael was born. Imagine the discussions between Sarah and Abraham before the birth of Isaac. How many times must both of them have regretted the decision for Abraham to sire a son with Hagar? Being in the intentional will of God is always best for our lives.

Another lesson from this passage is that God’s word is always good. Being “children of the promise” is a key phrase. As children of the promise God already has our lives and our eternity mapped out. He intends for us to be risk takers for His kingdom. The Christian life is not to be sedate and dull, but full of opportunities to trust Him. When we know the promise of the future there should be no holding back on what we are will to trust to God.

Dear Lord, help us to seek to know your will and to risk whatever is asked to live out your will. Amen.

Written by Steve Hardy