We do things in the expectation that we will obtain particular results. Unfortunately, things which we did not expect often result from our actions. These unexpected consequences occur because we often do not take sufficient time to think about our actions, or we are ignorant of the significance of what we do.
The followers of Christ who lived in the Roman province of Galatia were starting to try to earn their salvation by keeping the Law of Moses. By turning away from the principle of justification by faith in Christ to the principle of salvation by works, these people were going to reap a very different consequence than they expected. The Apostle Paul wrote them that they were turning from freedom to slavery.
To explain his point, Paul gave them the illustration of Hagar and Sarah. In chapter 4, verse 21 through 31, of his inspired letter he writes, “Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break forth and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.” Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. However what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.”
In this illustration, Paul contrasts what man does to that which God does. Abraham had two sons. The first one was born in the way that children are naturally born. This was Ishmael whom Abraham had by his slave, Hagar. Abraham’s second son, however, was not born in the ordinary way. Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was barren. There was no way in which she could have a child in the normal course of events. Similarly, Abraham, himself, was too old to father a child. How, then, did Sarah bear a son to Abraham? Isaac was born because God promised that it would be so, and Abraham believed the promise. In another place, Scripture says, “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.” (Hebrews 11:11 NIV)
Isaac’s birth was so unusual that Paul writes he was “born by the power of the Spirit” (verse 29 NIV). In this sense, Isaac became a forerunner of Jesus Christ. Scripture records that Jesus’, “…mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18 NIV) The difference between Isaac and Jesus is that no man had any part in Jesus’ conception, while Abraham fathered Isaac.
Not only were the births of Ishmael and Isaac very different, so too was the status of their mothers. Paul points out that Hagar was a slave and her children were intended to be slaves also. In contrast, Sarah was free and the full wife of Abraham. Any children she bore were legitimate heirs of Abraham. Because of this, Hagar’s son, Ishmael, never enjoyed the status of an heir. On the other hand, Sarah’s son, Isaac, was acknowledged as Abraham’s legitimate and full heir from the time of his birth. Ishmael’s birth was a source of strife and contention in Abraham’s household. Isaac’s birth was a cause for rejoicing and blessing.
Under the circumstances, it was natural that Ishmael would resent Isaac and the status Isaac enjoyed. Scripture says that Ishmael mocked (Genesis 21:9) and persecuted (Galatians 4:29) Isaac. As a result of this, Ishmael and his mother Hagar were expelled from Abraham’s household. Ishmael not only lost the privilege of living with his father, he never received an inheritance. He did not share in the blessings which God promised Abraham.
Paul writes that Hagar and Ishmael are representative of all those who try to obtain salvation by their own efforts. They are a picture of the Old Covenant or the Law of Moses. Just as Hagar was a slave, those who follow the principles of the Old Covenant are in bondage to those principles. There is nothing in them to set men free from sin. Just as Ishmael was born as a result of man’s will and did not receive an inheritance from Abraham, those who rely on their own efforts to please God will not receive the inheritance which God promises to those in His household. Just as Hagar and Ishmael were thrown out of Abraham’s household, those who rely on their own good works will be rejected by God.
In contrast, Sarah and Isaac represent the New Covenant which God has made through Jesus Christ. Just as Sarah was free, those who accept the work of God through Christ to justify them, are freed from sin. Just as Isaac was born into Abraham’s household as a result of Abraham’s faith in the promise of God, those who believe in Christ are born into God’s household. Just as Isaac received an inheritance as Abraham’s son, those who are in God’s household because of their faith in Christ, will receive an eternal inheritance. Just as Abraham recognized Isaac as his legitimate son, God accepts in His household those who belong to Christ.
Each one of us needs to evaluate ourselves in light of this. Are we relying on our own good deeds to earn us a place in paradise, or are we relying on the work of God, through Jesus Christ? Are we in slavery to rituals, customs and regulations, or are we free because we have been born of God’s Spirit? Are we part of God’s household, eagerly awaiting the inheritance He has promised us, or will we be rejected?