A Comparison Between The Two Sons of Abraham

Topic: Comparison
Passage: Galatians 4:27–31

October 14, 2022

Commentary

It is written that a barren woman, who has not given birth to children should break forth with a joyful shout, because of not feeling birth pangs, in comparison to the desolate woman who has many more children than she who has a husband (v. 27). This quotation from (Isaiah 54:1) says Israel before her Babylonian Captivity was likened to a woman with a husband. The barren woman was Israel in captivity. The woman bearing more children may have pictured Israel restored to the land after the Exile. It seems that Paul applied this passage to Sarah, who though previously barren was later blessed with a child. In applying the truth from this illustration he made three comparisons:

  1. Paul compared the birth of Isaac to that of Christians (v. 28). As Isaac experienced a supernatural birth and was a child by means of a promise, so each believer experiences a supernatural birth as a recipient of the promise of salvation.
  2. The apostle compared Ishmael’s persecution of Isaac to the false teachers’ opposition to believers. (v. 29). That early animosity has been perpetual in the two peoples which descended from the two sons of Abraham and is seen in the current Arab-Israel tensions.
  3. Paul compared the action of Abraham to the obligation of the Galatians. (v. 30). When Sarah observed Ishmael mocking Isaac, she asked Abraham to expel the slave woman and her son so Ishmael will not become a joint heir with Isaac. A fundamental incompatibility remains  between a religion based on works and a religion based on faith.

Paul concludes that he and all believers are not really children of the slave woman who was denied a share in the inheritance but children of the free woman who are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (v. 31).

Application

Do you ever stop to think about how much of your time is spent doing what you want to do in life in comparison to seeking what the Lord wants you to do? When I think about this it makes me wonder where the values of my life have been? I really want to make them count for the Lord!

Galatians 4:27– 31 (NET)

27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.”

28 But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac. 29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now. 30 But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son” of the free woman. 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.