In Luke 15 Jesus told the beautiful short Story of a man with two sons, and the our Lord drew a wealth of practical truth from that account. But even longer ago (back in the Book of Genesis) a man named Abraham also had two sons. And the Apostle Paul (in our Text today) is going to begin drawing vital Biblical truth leaned from these two boys, their lives, their births even!
Galatians 4:23 reminds us: “But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.”
The child of the slave (bondwoman) was Ishmael.
The baby born to the freewoman (the mistress, the matriarch, wife of the household) was Isaac.
Ishmael’s mother was Hagar.
Isaac’s … Sarah.
But Paul wants us to know more than these bare facts.
“But he who was of the bondwoman was born AFTER THE FLESH; but he of the freewoman was BY PROMISE.”
These two facets of the boys’ origins must be important!
They must be established … in order for Paul to continue with his application.
I’d say Ishmael (the name means “God will hear”) was certainly born via fleshly means. Abraham had sexual relations with a slave they owned. And through her was this child given! Sarah was not involved, except she at first agreed to the plan. In fact, she originated it! (“Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.” Genesis 16:1-2)
And THIS TIME … Abraham listened!
But not always did he put Sarah’s best interest first! (“And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. SAY, I PRAY THEE, THOU ART MY SISTER: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.” Genesis 12:10-13)
Yes, this is the flesh!
But Isaac’s birth was different!
Solely by promise!
Miraculously so!
Here’s the Genesis Record … “And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.” Genesis 21:1-5
Abraham, a new Dad, at age 100! (Sarah was 90, folks!)
Again I say, this is promise!
Well before the birth, God said: “And God said, Sarah thy wife (Sarah) shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” Genesis 17:19, named even before he was conceived!
I think the point is well established … our Text today … “But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.”
Now Paul can go forward building his illustration, his argument, his sermon!
Which we shall notice further tomorrow morning, the Lord willing.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
In reality, from the time God first told Abraham about his “seed” (his “child”) being “of promise” (when Abraham first left Ur of the Chaldees) a period of 25 years had lapsed! Yes, Abraham was 75 years of age when he left his home, solely to follow God Almighty. And he (as we have seen) was 100 when Isaac was born!
That’s trusting God and His PROMISE!