Paul is continuing to contrast grace and works which has been motivated by false teaching from Judaizers. He has been building a case as to why grace/faith is superior to law/works. Again, the false teachers had infiltrated the churches at Galatia with prerequisites for salvation and were adding these requirements in addition to grace. Paul turns to an Old Testament illustration of Abraham and Sarah. God had promised that He would give them a son of promise through whom all the world would be blessed; however, after time had passed it seemed as though God would not fulfill His promise. So, Abraham and Sarah tried to take matters into their own hands by Abraham sleeping with Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian maid (Genesis 16:1-16). Hagar bore a son named Ishmael, but his birth was a result of Abraham and Sarah not trusting that God would give them a son. Eventually God gave them a son named Issac and fulfilled the promise He had made to them. Ishmael was born of human efforts, but Issac was miraculously given by God. Paul uses this real life story to illustrate a spiritual truth. Hagar represented law/works while Sarah represented grace/faith (4:22-26). Hagar was a slave and illustrated being under bondage to the law and Sarah illustrated freedom through grace. Issac received the promises made to Abraham just as believers receive God’s promises of redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ (4:28). According to Galatians 4:29, there has always been conflict between the descendants of Ishmael (Arabs) and the descendants of Issac (Jews). This struggle is illustrated in modern day between unbelievers (those who trust in law/works)and believers (those who trust in grace/faith) – this was the struggle which was now taking place in the churches at Galatia. Paul challenges them to forsake justification through the law because it only leads to bondage, but rather be justified through faith which leads to freedom (4:30-31).
Dear God, thank You for the freedom provided through the grace given by Jesus Christ!
