TUESDAY March 9, 2021
The Promise
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic.
Galatians 4:21-24
Paul nourished and cherished the Galatian believers as children in the faith. He did not have a voice of rebuke, but of love. His heart broke for them. Paul reasoned with them about the Law. They desired to relate their lives with the Law, to be in relationship with the Law, but that would mean death and bondage! There would be no freedom! So Paul once again explained to them the difference between the Law and grace. They needed to understand that everything Jesus accomplished for them was gained through faith in Him.
Paul continued his discourse to the Galatians. As Sarah remained childless, she thought to give her maid to her husband––Abraham. The bondwoman, Hagar, became Abraham’s concubine and had a son, Ishmael (Genesis 16). Symbolically, Ishmael represents the Law, flesh and death.
The other son was of the freewoman–––Sarah. God promised Sarah she would have a child in her old age. Sarah had Isaac (Genesis 21). Symbolically, Isaac represents grace, the Spirit of God, freedom, and eternal life. Paul used this illustration to reason with the Galatians, “Do you not see the difference between the Law and God’s grace?”
Who was promised to come in the Old Testament? It was Jesus! Isaac was the son of promise, and through his lineage, Jesus was born––through Mary. Jesus came to set us free and to give us the promise of the Holy Spirit, through which we become sons of God.
As the rainbow is our assurance that the world shall never be destroyed by a flood, so is Jesus our assurance that the floods of human sin shall never drown the faithful kindness of the Lord.
~C.H Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!