Galatians 4:21-27 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 in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. These things may be taken figuratively, for 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, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
The man or woman who tries to find God by his or her works is like the son of Hagar. Hagar's son was conceived under normal human methods: both Abraham and Hagar were young enough to have conceived Ishmael, and they made the decision to have him according to their plan, not God's. Abraham was going to work out God's promise to him to be blessed with a son through his own way: the womb of Hagar. Otherwise, through his and Hagar's strength and actions, Abraham was going to implement the plan of God. This plan of Abraham's exemplifies the works of the flesh rather than the works of the Spirit. The works of the flesh always place man in the middle of the plan: his wants, desires, and methods, not God's. Long ago when the law was read to them, the Israelites said: "WE WILL DO IT." As capable men and women, human beings believe we are strong enough, smart enough, dedicated enough to work out God's blessing in our lives. "We will do it" is our cry of self-sufficiency. But, in all situations of blessing, certainly with eternal life, God must be in the center of the plan. Sometimes God's plan of blessing for us does not seem practical or possible; as with Abraham: Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” (Genesis 17:17) Abraham laughed because he felt God's plan was nonsensical, did not line up with the realities of the flesh, for age is a significant determinant in conceiving children.
Paul uses this allegory of Abraham attempting to carry out God's plan through the flesh to warn us that we cannot find eternal life through our efforts. He is telling the Galatians that circumcision will profit them nothing when it comes to attaining God's eternal blessing on them. Following the law and its ceremonies will not satisfy God, for it negates God's grace and mercy, placing man and his efforts in the center of the plan, not the goodness of God. Abraham received God's blessing, not because of his goodness, but because of God's grace and mercy. God chose to bless Abraham. The blessing was not the result of Abraham choosing God. Of course, Abraham was a man of faith, which means: He believed God's words to him. When Abraham complained to God that he did not have a child, the Lord told him, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” The Bible goes on to say, Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:5-6) But, even though he had a belief in God, he was confused about how to implement those words. He thought he would have to take the responsibility of carrying out God's plan for blessing him. But God thwarted Abraham's plan by having Hagar and Ishmael sent out into the desert. Abraham's fleshly plan had to be completely rejected before God could carry out his divine plan of blessing the world through Isaac and his seed, Jesus Christ. The slave child, born of natural intent, could not inherit the blessing of God; for God's eternal blessing rests only with those who are free to receive the Holy Spirit's gifts. Freedom from sin comes only through the works of God and not of men.
Through this juxtaposition of Hagar, the slave woman, and Sarah, the free woman, Paul stresses that eternal life does not come from man's efforts; his plans or his works. Paul tells the Galatians exactly what John stated well when he wrote: Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:35-36) God's plan was to set his people free. His new covenant was sealed through the death of Jesus' Christ on the cross. God's works through Jesus Christ is the only path that can set men free from sin and death. No other sacrifice pleases God; for the works of man are always inherently sinful, imperfect, falling short of his holiness. Even if a man could outwardly perform all the works necessary to fulfill the law, his heart would deceive him. As we hear the Lord say in his Word: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus said, But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28) In his teachings, Jesus made it clear if we hold bitterness or anger against a person, we are not right with God. If we hate our enemies, we are in danger of hellfire. Since we cannot obtain perfection on our own, we need a Savior, one who is always pleasing to God, the Father. Paul stresses this point in his allegory of the free and the slave woman: we must be born of God's plan: the free woman; not of our plan: the slave woman. The former leads to life eternal, the latter to death. We know from scripture that if we want to be forgiven, we must forgive others. God has given us the perfect example of perfect love and forgiveness. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Romans 5:8-9) Rejoice in this love and forgiveness today and share Christ's love!
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