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.
Summary: In this passage, Paul gives us a timeless insight into the human condition.
What does Paul mean by “the flesh” and the “power of the Spirit?”
Earlier in his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes, “After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) The “Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit. The “means of the Spirit” is a reference to faith in Jesus Christ that comes by “means of the Spirit” of God.
Ishmael was born “according to the flesh” because his birth was by an act of human will. God did not ordain that Abraham should take a second wife. Genesis does not record any angel instructing Sarah to have a child by her slave. The arrangement between Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham was entirely human.
Earlier, God had promised Abraham that he would have a son who would be his own “flesh and blood” (Gen 15:4). Abraham was told that his descendants would number more than the stars in the sky (Gen 15:5). When Abraham finally was able to have a son by Sarah, he was an old man and Sarah was “past the age of childbearing” (Gen 18:11). The fact that she was able to conceive and give birth to a child at ninety years of age was an act of God. Another way of saying “act of God” is to say “by the power of the Spirit.”
Why does the flesh persecute those of the Spirit?
This is a legacy that goes back to Cain and Abel (Gen 4:1-8). Abel seemed to have an understanding of God that must have been grounded in the Spirit. Abel’s offering pleased the Lord. The text does not tell us any more than that, but the portrait that is painted is one of a closeness between Abel and God.
Cain doesn’t share Abel’s friendship with the Lord. He brings an offering to the Lord, but it is not an offering of “first fruits.” Instead, Cain brings “some of the fruits of the soil.” It doesn’t sound like Cain was trying very hard to impress God. The other clue about Cain’s relationship with God is that instead of being distraught when his offering was not accepted, he was angry.
Cain was angry at God!
At the end of the day, Cain’s anger at God is the root of the flesh’s persecution of anyone who lives by the Spirit. Cain’s descendants, literal and figurative, are angry at God. Some things never change.
Application: If you want to honor the Spirit, live by the Spirit.
Food for Thought: Is Paul’s statement “It is the same now,” still true, and if so, how?
The flesh wants to be right, to be honored for its actions, to be told “you did this so well, you get _______”
But the flesh by nature is not right most of the time, God doesn’t honor them for their minimal accomplishments, he gives them correction because he loves them. They hate the disparity between their perspective and God’s.
Those by the Spirit know they need a stand-in for when they’re wrong, give honor to the truly righteous and thus receive honor in return, God favors them (well done, good and faithful).
This feels like a slap in the face to those working by the flesh. And I get it, they(fleshly) see someone undeserving(by the Spirit) being given what they(fleshly) worked for. Cain worked hard for God’s approval, but he didn’t understand what really matters to God and feel short. Of course that would hurt deep inside! Hagar was told to sleep with Abraham and she had a son. There was no way that the servants of Abraham and Sarah didn’t know God promised a whole lot to their heir, or Abraham’s wealth and where it would go. Hagar had expectations as soon as she knew she was pregnant (hence the attitude shift). Hagar, maybe others too, taught this to Ishmael, he grew up thinking this, so when Isaac finally came into being their expectations were stomped on.
What about today? Do people suddenly not have ways of explaining why they’re good enough that Christianity appears to stomp on? Of course there are! They don’t want substitutionary righteousness, they want to be right and to get praised for it! The big problem is, that their version of right keeps getting further and further from reality. The anger of those living by the flesh, even those living by the demonic (that’s a thing too somehow) has yet to be seen in full. But God has the final say.
Thank you A!
You are on fire this morning!! 🙂
I especially like this statement: “They hate the disparity between their perspective and God’s.”
It puts me in mind of Matthew 7:1-6. Their perspective is obscured by the “plank in the eye.”
Excellent response A. All I can say is I agree. The same rebellion against God and the jealousy towards others is alive today and driving an unbelieving world to persecute those who want to live for Christ.
Amen!!