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 according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. These things are being taken figuratively: 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, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: “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.” Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does 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 and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

The key concept here is “figuratively”. Paul is not saying that descendants of Haggar cannot become Children of God. He is not saying that all descendants of Abraham are Children of God. He is saying that the circumstances that led to Haggar becoming pregnant were selfish in nature. It was Abraham and Sarah taking things into their own hands, making their own plans for a mighty God. And the result was bitterness, envy and strife in the home. It also resulted in the children of Ishmael (The Arabs), in general, ever since then, becoming hateful of the children of Isaac (The Jews). We still see this playing out today, thousands of years later. The famous and horrible family feud of the Hatfields and the McCoys has nothing on the thousands of years feud of the Jews and the Arabs. And it was all started because of disobedience to God’s command and plan.

God designed sex to be enjoyed by a husband and wife in marriage. And this activity of oneness creates offspring, children, to whom we are bonded forever. The husband and wife are bonded together spiritually, physically at times, emotionally, and in life. They are then bonded to their children by birth and blood.

When this marriage covenant is broken with God, even by mutual consent of the married partners, evil results. And so we see this play out in the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Haggar and their children and descendants.

The application is clear, we are to get rid of “the slave woman”, not actually but figuratively. This represents making our own plans for God or taking things into our own hands when God’s plans do not seem to materialize. This is first prideful, second self-serving, and third it lacks true faith in God.

What thoughts and actions of sin — that lead to “slavery” — do I need to rid myself of? Am I willing to wait on a Sovereign God or will I grow impatient and take matters into my own hands?

Lord, the sin of Abraham and Sarah in breaking the marriage covenant with Haggar had lasting consequences. It is the age-old story of man thinking we know better than you do. But the good news is, you forgave Abraham and still kept your promise to him. His descendants were truly great under Isaac, in spite of his sin. And so it is also true that somehow, amidst the many ways I have failed you, you still love me, forgive me, and seek to bless me too. Help me to remember your grace and mercy! Teach me to trust you more in the unknown places of life. To you be all of the glory for your amazing love and grace for me!