Paul has nearly exhausted
his illustration of Abraham with his two sons as representatives of
the law of God and the grace of God. The law of God was represented
by Ishmael and the grace of God was represented by Isaac. He has a
few more references to make about these two examples as he seeks to
make clear to the church members in Galatia the importance of the
grace of God in the believer's life. He continued his discourse in
chapter four and verse thirty where he wrote:
Nevertheless what does
the scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of
the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
In our
last verse Paul spoke of the flesh persecuting the spirit, and as
Ishmael persecuted Isaac years before, the question becomes, “What
should we do with the flesh?” Paul says, “Nevertheless what
says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son:...”
Paul references the scriptures for execution. In Genesis chapter
twenty-one and verses ten through twelve we read:
Wherefore she said unto
Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this
bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, [even] with Isaac. And the
thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And
God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because
of the lad, and because of your bondwoman; in all that Sarah has said
unto you, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall your seed be
called.
Because
Ishmael was taunting Isaac, Sarah, Isaac's mother complained to
Abraham. Her desire was that Ishmael and his mother be cast out of
their house. This is exactly what occurred. Paul uses this example as
a reference to what should happen to the flesh nature. It should be
thrown out, cast out, of a person's life, and therein to live no
longer.
Paul
gives the reason why this must occur by continuing his example. He
wrote: “...for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with
the son of the freewoman.” There was no way that Ishmael was
going to be the heir of Abraham if Sarah had anything to do with it.
She desired that Ishmael and his mother be gone, and therefore the
entire inheritance would be Isaac's. God ratified her desire and told
Abraham “for in Isaac shall your seed be called.” Isaac
was the child of promise, and Ishmael was a work of the flesh. Isaac
was to receive the inheritance, and Ishmael was to be cast out. So it
is with the flesh nature. The flesh persecutes the spirit, and
therefore must be cast out of a person's life. The spirit of God must
reign and receive the promises of God. If we are ever to be free
within our lives, we must cast out the works of the flesh and live
after the spirit of God.
We are
indeed descendants of the free if we live after the spirit of God.
The flesh nature must be cast out, and when we receive the promise of
grace through Jesus Christ there is no longer a need to attempt to
live after the law of God for salvation. We live free before the Lord
Jesus knowing that He has paid the price in advance for our freedom,
and now we are to receive the inheritance promised by God to all who
believe.
Next time Paul continues to tell us how we are children of the free,
so read ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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