November 24, 2023

Galatians 4:21-31 (HCSB)
Sarah and Hagar: Two Covenants
21 Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. 23 But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24 These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: Rejoice, childless woman, who does not give birth. Burst into song and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate are many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband. 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman. 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Tracie Joiner
Paul is writing about Abraham’s two wives and the two sons born through them. We see that these two wives are distinctly different, one a slave, the other a free woman. God had made a promise to Abraham and just like us, Abraham did not have patience and thought He knew better than God. Sarah, too, was tired of waiting and took matters into her own hands. She gave Hagar to Abraham to be his wife. God's will is so much bigger than we expect. All along, He was planning for Sarah to give birth even after it would have seemed impossible. We need to remember that God is always right and God is always on time. Paul is directly speaking about the differences between the Law that was given to Moses and the grace that is promised through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul speaks to the persecution of believers, which is happening even today, but having faith that believers in Jesus will win and those who persecute will be exiled from God’s people. Continue to tell others of the saving grace through Jesus and promises that have been made and fulfilled and the faith that the remaining promises will be fulfilled.