Paul concludes his analogy where he uses the soap opera of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael to explain situation involving the Judaizers and the new believers in Galatia.
In this letter, he's doing everything he can to undo the damage these false teachers have done.
They've infiltrated these churches and convinced them that the only way they can stay saved is through their own good works (Gal 2:4; 3:1-3). The apostle repeatedly uses the Old Testament as an explosive to blast away at their false gospel.
Beginning in Galatians 4:22, he uses the story of Hagar and Sarah as an allegory to illustrate just what's going down. The Judaizers and those who follow them are just like Ishmael and his mom. The followers of Jesus are like brothers of Isaac, "children of the promise" (Gal 4:28).
Ultimately, the man from Tarsus hopes his readers will understand that the relationship between these two half brothers still exists today. He wants us to see that history repeats itself. Here we go again.
Same as it ever was.
Once again, Paul flips open the pages of Genesis. He recalls, "But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit..." (v29). He reminds them that Ish and Ike weren't exactly close.
Once again, he describes Ishmael as "born according to the flesh." In other words, this was when Abe and Sarah took things into their own hands to fulfill God's promise (Gen 16:2).
The writer of Genesis says that the day Abe and Sarah weaned Ike as a baby, Ish mocked his little brother (Gen 21:9). This is more than a little sibling rivalry. Hagar’s kid openly talked trash and laughed at his kid brother.
Paul points out that just as Ish ridiculed and insulted Ike, "so also it is now" (v29). What's happening in now Galatia is the same thing that happened back in Genesis. In other words, don't fall for the Judaizers' trash talk of Paul and the rest of Jesus' followers.
That's what Jesus taught His followers on a Galilean hillside (Mt 5:10-12). Unbelievers will persecute those who trust God. It’s Christ’s way of saying, “Haters gonna hate."
As a matter of fact, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter says this is pattern of persecution is actually a good thing. It let's you know that "your reward is great in heaven."
It happened then. It's happening again. Here we go again. Same as it ever was.
The apostle quotes Genesis 21:10 which describes how Sarah insisted that Abe kick Hagar and Ishmael to the curb so that they would not be included in Isaac's inheritance.
Paul wants us to know that folks like the Judaizers that teach self-salvation will never be saved through trying to keep the rules. When the divine will is read, they won't hear their names.
This family feud continues today. Forget the Hatfields and the McCoys. That ain't NOTHING compared to the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. Jews and Arabs have been at war ever since. We're not talking centuries, but millennia!
Same as it ever was.
Notice in Paul's analogy the different ways he refers to the unnamed Isaac. He's the child "by a free woman" (Gal 4:22, 23, 30). He's the boy born through the "promise" (Gal 4:23, 28). He's kid "born according to the Spirit" (Gal 4:29).
He wants us to know that they all mean the same thing. When we're born according to God's promise, we're born according to the Spirit and we're born free!
Paul concludes his allegory with the bottom line: "So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman" (v31).
This is what he wants the Galatians to take away from the illustration. They are NOT like the Judaizers. They are NOT like Ishmael.
If you've placed your trust in what Jesus has done FOR you, then you're a child "of the free woman."
Don't let these spiritual snake oil salesmen fool you with scriptural slight of hand. And it's still happening today! That's why we need be aware just like the Galatians. It happened then. It's happening again. Here we go again.
Same as it ever was.
©2012
Jay Jennings
No comments:
Post a Comment