Our recent studies have been dedicated to Paul's letter to the Galatians. In the face of false teachers who were seeking to impose the law of Moses on Christians, Paul has firmly established the gospel's truth. He shows us that our justification and righteousness come from the completed work of Jesus, not from our efforts. Paul's emphasis on the gospel of Christ, a central theme of his letter, leads him to discuss two covenants, drawing from the Hebrew Scriptures.
The Text
Galatians 4:21–30 (NIV)
"Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son.”
The Background
In our last lesson, we discussed Christ formed in us (ref. 4:19) and how we, as Christians, are to grow into Christlikeness. As we continue, we will notice the importance of the Scriptures as we live Christ-formed lives.
Continuing to lay the foundation of Christ amid false teaching, Paul refers back to the Old Testament and the story of Abraham and Sara as he discusses two covenants. What is important about understanding the story of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah in the context of Paul's letter, and how does this relate to Christ being formed in us?
The Story
Let's try to put a bit of context around Paul's metaphor of Abraham's two sons.
In Genesis 18, Abraham is sitting near the great trees of Mamre at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. Three visitors approach Abraham, and Abraham offers them hospitality as he washes their feet and provides them with food so they can be refreshed on their journey.
A Promise
Genesis 18:10–14 (NIV)
"Then one of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son."
As Bible students, we know that God has promised to make Abraham a great nation and that all people of the earth will be blessed through him (Gen. 12:1-3). It's important to notice that this is all because of God's abundant blessing and promise in the story. God chooses to bless Abraham, and He does so by giving Abraham the promise of His word. Abraham has done nothing to receive the Lord's favor. God promises to bless Abraham so that God's blessing can flow to the world through him.
A Plan
In the story, God promised to bless Abraham and Sarah with children. However, after some time, Abraham's faith was tested. Waiting on God's promise is often difficult. Today, we struggle with waiting. Doubts usually arise in the waiting. This seems to be what happened in the minds of Abraham and Sarah. Following the customary practice of their day, Sara offers her maidservant, Hagar, to Abraham so they can have children through her (Gen. 16).
Our plans often complicate God's promise. Instead of trusting God's word, Abraham and Sarah acted on their understanding and trusted in their effort. Through Abraham, Hagar had a son, Ishmael. Their planning and reliance on human effort and wisdom lead to conflict. Later, Abraham would send Hagar and Ishmael away (Gen. 21:8-20).
As God had promised, a son was born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, Issac (Gen. 21:1-3).
Paul uses this story to illustrate further that Christians are children of promise. As he has stated earlier, we were redeemed from the law so that we are no longer slaves but God's child and, as His children, fellow heirs (Gal. 4:4-7).
An Example
In Galatians, Paul uses this story as an example of faith and trust in Christ and God's word. He compares Hagar as being like the covenant from Mount Sinai and Sarah as a result of promise.
Through faith in Christ, we have been set free from the law. As Paul stated earlier, Christ redeemed us so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to all nations through Christ Jesus, so that by faith, we might receive the promise of the Spirit (ref. Gal. 3:14).
Since Christ has come, continuing in the practices and customs of the law, relying on our merits for salvation and justification, is like Hagar. Human efforts and wisdom will result in bondage and not freedom. Paul would record, "...brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman" (Gal. 4:31).
Shaped By Scripture
Let's return to the thought of Christ formed in us as we consider Paul. In our text, Paul began with a question:
Galatians 4:21 (NIV)
"Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?"
Galatians 4:21 (NASB95)
"Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?"
Part of Christ formed in us is knowing the Scripture. It's knowing the story and allowing God's story to shape us through the lens of Christ.
Paul was trained as a Pharisee under one of the greatest Rabbis of his day, Gamaliel.
Acts 22:3–4 (NIV)
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today."
Gamaliel was a leading member of the Sanhedrin and a teacher of the law. All the people highly respected him (Acts 5:34). Paul, as his student, would have been devoted to studying the Torah. Paul knew the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), and he was zealous for God.
However, as we briefly mentioned last week, his zeal could have been better directed. After an encounter with Jesus (Acts 9), his eyes were opened, and he began to see the Scriptures through the lens of Messiah Jesus. Paul suffered prison, flogging, beating with rods, pelting with stones, and shipwreck, all for the sake of Christ and the gospel (2 Cor. 11: 23-26). Christ and the Scripture transformed and shaped Paul's life.
Today, we need to know the Scripture, know the story, and allow Christ and the Scripture to shape our lives. However, it's about more than just collecting information, verse memorization, or book, chapter, and verse. Paul asked, "...do you not listen to the law?"
The story of Jesus and the Scripture should transform us. The Scriptures are given so that we can hear and know the character and nature of the Father. Christ appeared and made His dwelling with us so we could see the Father (Jn. 14:6-11). The Scriptures should transform and not simply inform.
Paul knew the Scripture, and through his encounter with Jesus, he could see the story through the light of Jesus. This allowed him to look back at the story of Abraham and Sarah and understand the nature and character of the Father. Formed by Jesus and shaped by the Scripture, Paul could see how the Father has always been working in His creation, through Jesus, to accomplish His purposes in blessing all nations.
Crossing The Context
Allow your life to be transformed by Jesus and the story of Scripture
Notes:
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from: ”Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
images created by Steve Ellis with Midjourney
Recommended Resources:
BibleProject, Galatians Overview Video
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