“Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
Summary: Sarah’s demand that Abraham “get rid of” Hagar and Ishmael puts Abraham in a tough spot.
What does it mean to be “under the law?” This question is Paul’s opening salvo in his illustration using Sarah and Hagar.
God made a promise to Abraham. Sarah grew impatient and used her slave, Hagar, to shortcut God’s promise. The result was a mess.
Hagar resented being used by Sarah. Hagar’s son, Ishmael, adopted his mother’s attitude toward Sarah. When Isaac was born, Ishmael “mocked” him. The result was a showdown between Sarah and Hagar. Abraham turned to God for help.
God’s response is instructive:
“Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” (Genesis 21: 12-13)
God honored Ishmael because he was Abraham’s son. He honored Isaac more because he was the son of God’s promise to Abraham. In addition, God honored Sarah’s judgment on Ishmael. The son of the slave woman does not share in the inheritance of the free woman’s son.
Paul’s illustration is now complete. The two mothers represent two spiritual paths. The slave woman represents the law because the law, like being a slave, requires obedience. The free woman represents living by faith in Jesus because the connection is based on a promise of love, not the law.
Paul understands both slavery and the law. Nobody chooses to be a slave.* The Israelites did not choose to be under the law. God gave them the law as a condition of being his people and leading them to the promised land. The point of the law was not to enslave the people but to teach them their need for a Savior.
What Paul doesn’t understand is, why, after being introduced to faith in the Lord Jesus, would anybody abandon that faith to become a slave to the law?
Application: Avoid slavery! Live for Jesus!
Food for Thought: Sarah was right about Hagar and Ishmael having to leave, but was she right about the rest? Can the slave woman’s son share in the inheritance of the free woman, and if so, how?
*There is one condition where this happens. See Exodus 21: 5-6. In this case, a man might choose to be a servant because of love, not because of the law.
I know that when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are adopted as children of God and receive from Him, and with Him, life eternal. Because Christ has already laid down His life for our sins, this inheritance is given the moment we believe and confess Him as Lord. We are reborn, and begin to grow in the likeness of Him.
Galatians 4:5–6 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, the gave the right to become children of God,
Romans 8:14–16 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are fsons1 of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Well said, Chris!
🙂
I agree with CH. The slave woman’s descendants only need to trust in Jesus to be welcomed into the family as a free child. That is true for all of us. Interestingly, Iran has one of the fastest growing church movements in the world today. Many of them would be descendants of Ishmael.
Thanks Rich!
Your news about Iran is encouraging!! 🙂
Sarah was right about Hagar and Ishmael having to leave, but was she right about the rest? Can the slave woman’s son share in the inheritance of the free woman, and if so, how?
Galatians 4:30b , God told Sarah to separate Hagar and Ishmael from them because Ishmael would never concede to Isaac having authority over him.
Genesis 21:17-21, At the same time God heard and cared for Hagar and Ishmael in their time of need. In fact He made Ishmael ruler of his own kingdom.
Genesis 25:13-15, The names of the sons of Ishmael, are listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.
Genesis 25:23, Thru Isaac, God conceived two males in the womb of Rebekah, two nations, two people. One people would be stronger than the other; And the older would serve the younger.”
Genesis 35:23-26, Jacob, son of Isaac would father twelve sons while living in northern Syria. His first-born Reuben was the son of Leah, who later gave birth to Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Leah’s servant Zilpah had two sons: Gad and Asher. Jacob and his wife Rachel had Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel’s servant woman Bilhah had two more sons: Dan and Naphtali.
Genesis 25:7, Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age of 175. Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael, along with their sons of buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre,
Sarah was right as she, in obedience to God separated Isaac and Ishmael. The individual LIFE choices made by the 12 son’s of each, are what will be judged by God, and each will receive their reward or condemnation based upon the desires, thoughts, actions of each.
Ron,
VERY interesting presentation. Thank you!!
Each generation is accountable for its own actions.
You bring to mind Jeremiah 31:29-30 —
“In those days people will no longer say,
‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.“