Thought #15

(Israel and The Church)
(Jerusalem Which is Above)
(Galatians 4:22-31

Text:
Galatians 4:22 "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."

Opening Thoughts:

This week we come to a divine allegory, or to use the New King James word a divine symbolism. Many times we say that this particular thing was symbolic of that. We might use Job as a picture of Jesus, or maybe King David as a picture of the Messiah. Of course there are many points that will prove true to this, but equally there will be many points that do not. Today we come to a type that God has set up for us. What we could call a divine symbol. To be honest, had the Holy Spirit not chosen to expose this allegory we might well have missed it. But God in His grace and wisdom unfolds an everlasting truth for us as He compares the children born of the bondwoman and the children of the freewoman.

To our Text:

1) First let's see that indeed it is God who sets up the symbolism. It is not the work of men's minds, but indeed the very mind of God. Look at it in 24. "Which things are an allegory". The things which God is referring to is Abraham's two sons. Notice how they are described.
A) One born by a bondmaid. Now as we think of the story of Isaac and Ishmael we would immediately think here of Ishmael, the son born out of wedlock. The son born when Abraham took Sarah's handmaid Hagar.
B) The one born of the free woman, this would be Isaac. The child of the promise, the child given to Sarah when she was past the age of child birth.

2) To further explain the story, God says in Verse 24 that the child of the bondwoman was born after the flesh. Again we think of Ishmael and agree, he was born out of an unholy union because Sarah and Abraham, rather than waiting on the promise of God sought to help God accomplish His divine plan. Equally we see that Isaac was born of the freewoman was not of the flesh, but indeed "was by promise". Verse 24 says that these two things are an allegory. They are a truth being taught through the use of symbols. Yes the entire account is real, but God says behind this very story is a much deeper truth.

3) In verse 24 Paul goes on to explain that these are the "two covenants". One covenant genders to bondage, and is the covenant given on mount Sinai. It is Hagar. This no doubt is one of the greatest twists we will ever find in scripture. The entire time as God spoke of the bond and the free, we associated the free with Hagar, but God says NOT SO! The one from Mount Sinai, the One that answers to Hagar is the covenant that genders to bondage. She is the one who answers to Jerusalem, and is right now is in bondage with her children. Thus we conclude that the 12 tribes, and all that we would regard as Jewery answer not to Isaac, but to Ishmael.

4) Then who does Isaac represent? Paul waste no time in having made it clear who Ishmael represented, he now explains who Isaac represented. Look in verse 26 "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." Thus Sarah and Isaac represent not the literal nation of Israel, but the church Of Jesus Christ. Thus Israel is not the nation of promise, but spiritual Israel (the church), the Israel of God is the nation of promise and the nation that is free.

5) Paul reinforces his allegory by quoting from Isaiah 54:1 "Rejoice thou barren [Sarah] that barest not; break forth and cry thou that travailest not: for the desolate [the New Covenant] hath many more children than she that hath an husband [the Old Covenant]." The abolition of the Old Covenant means the abolition of Israel (Jewry) from all her privileges, and the emergence of the New Testament Church is the rise of the new "Israel of God," Jew and Gentile, with all distinctions obliterated, to whom alone the Abrahamic promises belong. No other meaning or understanding is possible.

6) Now look as we close, at verse 29. Paul says "Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise" Let that sink in, not the Old nation of Israel that was then in bondage, but Spiritual Israel, the Israel of God, the church of Jesus Christ are children of the promise.

7) Next we see a solemn reality, look in verse 29, Paul says do you remember how Ishmael persecuted Isaac. So it is now. Israel after the flesh will persecute the Israel of God. The nation of Israel, those who have not come to faith in Christ, but instead still wait for the Messiah will prove to be an enemy to the Israel of God.

8) Paul's conclusion, and closing comments. Cast out the bondwoman (national Israel) for she shall not be heirs with the freewoman (spiritual Israel). What a dreadful end, the nation of Israel, forever cast out. In language that befits God final judgment paul says, the nation of Israel shall not be heirs with the church. She has been cast out of the house because of her rebellion.

Closing Thoughts The things which I have said today have far reaching implications. The nation of Israel being cast off as the apple of God's eye and indeed under His hand of judgment goes beyond just understanding Galatians chapter 4. But penetrates our understanding of the return of our Savior. It penetrates into the type of zeal we should have when we witness to a "Jew". The day is not coming when all Jews will be saved in an instant, but instead the day is coming when all men jew and Gentile must give an account.

Equally it affects us, we find that Israel forfeited the promises because of sin. Thus Paul rightly reminds us not to be high minded, but to have a reverent fear. If God would deal so sternly with the nation of Israel, we should indeed take heed.

Lastly, brethren, we are children not of the bondwoman, but o the free. May that work out in our lives day by day as we live for Christ.