Read
Hagar and Sarah
21Some of you would like to be under the rule of the Law of Moses. But do you know what the Law says? 22 In the Scriptures we learn that Abraham had two sons. The mother of one of them was a slave, while the mother of the other one had always been free. 23The son of the slave woman was born in the usual way. But the son of the free woman was born because of God's promise.
24All of this has another meaning as well. Each of the two women stands for one of the agreements God made with his people. Hagar, the slave woman, stands for the agreement that was made at Mount Sinai. Everyone born into her family is a slave. 25Hagar also stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and for the present city of Jerusalem. She and her children are slaves.
26 But our mother is the city of Jerusalem in heaven above, and she isn't a slave. 27 The Scriptures say about her,
“You have never had children,
but now you can be glad.
You have never given birth,
but now you can shout.
Once you had no children,
but now you will have
more children than a woman
who has been married
for a long time.”
28My friends, you were born because of this promise, just as Isaac was. 29 But the child who was born in the natural way made trouble for the child who was born because of the Spirit. The same thing is happening today. 30 The Scriptures say, “Get rid of the slave woman and her son! He won't be given anything. The son of the free woman will receive everything.” 31My friends, we are children of the free woman and not of the slave.
Reflect
There are many things in the Old Testament story that stand as symbols of things that would later come true. We call these symbols (persons, places, objects, or events) ‘shadows’ or ‘types’ of things to come. The story of Hagar and Sarah is a shadow/type of the two integrated topics in Galatians, that is, bondage to law-keeping and liberty through faith in Christ alone.
Throughout Galatians Paul has been at pains to impress upon us that “once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the law” (3:25). To reinforce this truth Paul advances the following observations:
- We are all born into bondage or freedom (v 22).
- We’re naturally born into bondage (v 23a) or supernaturally born into freedom through God’s promise (v 23b).
- The two types of births are two covenants (v 24).
- Hagar, a symbol for Mount Sinai and the earthly Jerusalem, represents spiritual bondage under the law (v 25).
- Sarah, a symbol for the new Jerusalem (compare Revelation 21), represents spiritual freedom through God’s promise (vv 26-27).
- Those born into freedom are children of God’s promise (v 28).
- Those born into bondage harass those born into freedom (v 29).
- Those born into bondage do not receive an inheritance (v 30).
- Those born into freedom receive an inheritance, that is, they are given fullness of life in Christ and eternal life (v 30).
- Those born into freedom are no longer in bondage to the law (v 31).
There are two sons (Ishmael and Isaac), two covenants (the law and the promise), and two Jerusalems (the earthly/perishable and the heavenly/eternal). Each pair is contrasted to urge us to embrace freedom and avoid being in bondage to the law (see 5:1ff).
Respond
Lord, faced with the choice of bondage or freedom, I choose freedom. Help me live today, and always, as a child of your promise in the fullness of my inheritance. Amen.
Lawson Murray
Lawson is the President of Scripture Union Canada and the Managing Editor of theStory™. Lawson takes every opportunity to enthusiastically invite people of all ages to connect with Jesus and His Story. He says, “We have been given the greatest story ever - God's Story! Should we not, with all our might and energy immerse ourselves in it? I believe we should. For without the Story we really have nothing to offer the millions who hunger and thirst for something more. But, with God’s Story we have what everyone needs!” Publications: Bible Engagement Blog; Children’s Ministry Basics Blog, Bible Engagement Basics; Bible Beginners