RevoDevos – Day 16

Monday, July 7^th
Read: Galatians 4:21-31

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: “Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no Children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? “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.” Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

This illustration about Hagar and Sarah prepares us for Paul’s discussion in which he says that we are to be free in Christ. Paul says in verse 31, “we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.” Paul is saying that the believer is not enslaved to the law, but rather is a child of promise who lives by faith. The child that Abraham had with Hagar represents the law that was given at Mount Sinai. The child that he had with Sarah represents the promise and the freedom of God. Paul says in verse 24, “these things may be taken figuratively.” He is not saying that the Hagar-Sarah account is an allegory in the sense that it was non-historical. He uses the events to illustrate a theological truth. The theological truth he is speaking of is the covenants— the old covenant of law and the new covenant of promise. Paul tells us that we are to be like the child of Sarah—FREE. We are not to live under the old law anymore, but by God’s promise and faith. Paul even says there is a choice, we can continue to be the children of the slaves and receive no inheritance, which is God’s love and mercy, or we can be of Sarah and receive His inheritance. The choice is a beautiful example of the freedom that God gives to us freely.

We are given the choice when Paul asks who we want to be under the law.

Lets think about the verses for a moment.

-Discuss what you know about Covenants.

-The two Covenants presented to us in this passage are the original between God and the Jews from Mount Sinai. This Covenant has expansive details on how to live accordingly to that Covenant. The second Covenant comes from Jesus and is much more simple, giving freedom to all who ask for it. This Covenant is based less on stringent laws and more on Love. Try comparing the New Testament Covenant of Jesus and the Old Testament Covenant of God.

-Based on all you talked about between the two is it a hard decision to pick between the two? The first truly is a sort of slavery to law, and so Paul makes it seem much more glorious to be under the second, which is of Jesus.

Verses 28-29 says, “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.” This pretty much says it all. We are believers in Christ, and we may be persecuted. Maybe you already have been persecuted at school or work maybe even by your own family. When Paul says in verse 30, “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,” it does not mean to actually get rid of these people, but to get rid of the law and live freely. However, this does not mean that we can just do whatever we want and think, “Well I refuse to live under the law, so I can do what I want.” It’s right that we do not live by the law, but we do live by Jesus Christ and we must remember that He tells us to live holy lives.

Process:

– Why do you think some people choose to still live under the “law”? Could the story with Sarah and Hagar reflect some of the problems facing organized church today, for example— legalism (being under the law)? Do you see any areas in your life where you may still be living under the old law or where you may be a little legalistic?