Galatians 4:21-31
In verses 22-26 Paul “equates” Hagar (and Mt. Sinai and the Law) with the “present Jerusalem” (the Judaizers and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem) and he “equates” Isaac (God’s promise to Abraham) with the “Jerusalem above” (those of the new Christian faith). It’s a good allegory, clearly designed to encourage his readers to not want to be under the Law but under faith in Christ instead. What intrigues me here is how Paul came up with this allegory. Did this understanding come directly from God when he was being tutored by the Holy Spirit in the Arabian desert? Or is this something that Paul came up with “on the fly” – as the Judaizers were bearing down on the new Gentile Christians in Antioch? Interesting…
But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. (v. 23) I wonder how much we do “according to the flesh” when we fail to fully seek the Lord for His desires in our lives? There have been times in my life when His will for my future direction has been clear to me – and other times when I make decisions or simply plod along, not really knowing where He would have me. But if I make a wrong decision, I know it’s not over for me – God can redeem me from myself! Still better to be right (with God) the first time!
Slava Bohu!
Thank you for that application, Fred. I have difficulty reading Paul’s arguments and multiple reiterations about the law/works vs. faith. Said it clearly about a chapter before!