Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
God's Promises and Man's Desires
“Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy
and cry aloud you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the
desolate woman than of her who has a husband” (24)
Paul
uses the story of Hagar and Sarah found in Genesis as the background for this
passage in Galatians Chapter 4:21-31.Paul defends the Gospel of Free Grace
by using the concept of Sonship - Sons of Abraham; Ishmael and Isaac. Paul
contrasts between two sons in terms of their social status (v.23) and the
manner of their birth (v.23).Hagar was Abraham's slave and Sarah was Abraham's
wife, a free woman. The social status of the mothers determined the social
status of their sons. Ishmael was the son of flesh whereas Isaac was the son of
promise. But what a dramatic contrast Paul's simple summary sets forth. Slavery
by natural birth and freedom by supernatural birth. The message is simple. If
you have only experienced natural birth, you are by nature a slave. But if you
have experienced supernatural birth by the fulfillment of God's promise, you
are set free by God's Grace.
Life
is filled with contrasts, especially the contrasts between the choices we have
before us and the consequences of what we actually choose. In Galatians Chapter
4, Paul provides us with the contrasts between being the children of the bond
woman, of man and his work, and the children of the free woman, of God and His
promises. Abraham in his life, had a choice to make, and he himself presents a
contrast of choices. God had promised Abraham a son, but he could not wait.
Abraham tried to bless himself, and Ishmael was the consequences. Later Abraham
chose to let God bless him, the result was a miracle and the son of promise
being born through Sarah, as promised by God. Abraham had to go through the
agony of pain for using the human choice rather than waiting for the
fulfillment of God's promise.
Here,
the women and children are representative of the choice we have before us, on
which Paul has spent nearly the entire letter of Galatians; the bondage of law
or the liberty of Christ. We can choose to follow the bondwoman and a life
of slavery, or a free woman and a life of liberty. As Christians, we are
born of the free woman and in Christ, therefore, we are the born again children
of promise. God promised Abraham a son and he received Isaac. But to us God has
given His own Son, Jesus Christ. God promised Abraham a promised land on earth,
but to us God has given the true promised land of heaven and a share of
everlasting eternity. God expects us to exercise faith by following His laws
and ways, not the nation's law that may be detrimental to our faith and
Christian life. Follow Abraham's faithful examples, not his faltering example
protected by the law of the nation, to enjoy friendship and ever closer
relationship Prayer: Eternal God, Thank you lord for the privilege of
being your children through the re birth with Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thought
for the day:
We are free in Christ when we take birth in Christ.
Dr. George K. Varghese, MTC Greater Washington