Don't be a Hagar! - Galatians 4:19-31
Don't be a Hagar! - Galatians 4:19-31
By Pastor Lee Hemen
August 28, 2015
In the annals of history no one wants to be remembered as a Wrong Way Corrigan who was an American aviator who after a transcontinental flight from Long Beach, California, to New York, flew from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, to Ireland, though his flight plan was filed to return to Long Beach. Nor do we want to be known as a Charlie Brown the cartoon character who falls for his friend Lucy's duplicitous football fakeouts or who always blows the neighborhood baseball game. And in the Bible we would not want to be equated with Hagar -- or, would we?
Paul in making his case to the Galatians has given them several examples of how they're going back to their old faith habits was headed spiritually in the wrong direction and now he gives them the example of Hagar. She was a handmaiden, servant, of Sarah Abraham's wife. Later after Sarah's scheming to circumnavigate God's plan Hagar becomes Abraham's concubine and gives birth to Ishmael, the father of the Ishmaelites who were and are still a thorn in Israel's side. Paul reminds the Galatians: Don’t be a Hagar! Let's discover why…
READ: Galatians 4:19-31
Few remember Corrigan was one of the builders of Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis or that Charlie Brown represents a steadfast constant in the cartoon lives of those around him, so what can the Galatians and we learn from Hagar? Well we discover that…
I. Hagar represents slavery! (Vv. 19-22)
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! 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 in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
1. Paul addresses his readers as "My dear children" because he saw them as such. Babes in Christ who needed to be spiritually guided and guarded and interestingly he continues by relating that "for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you"! He begins his illustration by talking about childbirth and then goes into how Abraham and Sarah circumnavigated God's plan for their children! However Paul often felt this way for those whom he had brought to faith in Jesus. He related to the Roman Christians, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love… that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-17, 19 NIV) That was always Paul's desire for those he had birthed in Christ -- he wanted them to mature in Jesus! And so he goes on to tell them "how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!" Like any loving parent he was confused by his kid's behavior and so he asks them, "Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?" Of course they were aware but they had forgotten what it had meant for them so Paul sets up his discourse by reminding them, "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman." Which were they willing to be, a child of a slave or the child of a free woman? One carried no rights or privileges and the other was the heir of all Abraham had! In fact, Abraham's "son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise." Had they forgotten the promise of God to Abraham? Sarah was convinced she knew better than God and persuaded Abraham to join her in her mischief. Yet Hagar was a slave! Hagar represents slavery!
EXAMPLE: There are few of us who would want to be slaves, however, when Gallup first asked Americans, "Do you, personally, believe in a God?" in 1944, 96% said they did. Between 94% and 98% of Americans said they believed in God in other surveys conducted through 1967. The same question was asked recently and 89% said they believe in God. And in another poll of those who had left Christianity 25% said they no longer believed in God or miracles. What does this tell us? 1) Too much easy believism is being taught, 2) less in depth discipleship is taking place, and 3) personal emotionalism is supplanting spiritual knowledge. Folks are not reading their Bibles. People therefore are willingly returning to spiritual slavery. For Paul Hagar represents slavery!
Interestingly when Mohammed was setting up Islam he did not like the idea that the people he was associated with, mainly Arabic tribes, were descendants of Ishmael. So like those who do not like certain aspects of their history, he simply changed it and made Ishmael Abraham's rightful heir and in the will of God. Yet actual history and events show otherwise. And here Paul tells the Galatians that…
II. Hagar represents the old contract! (Vv. 23-27)
These things may be taken figuratively, for 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, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."
1. Like Jesus, Paul often used examples in order to make a spiritual point and so he admits that "These things may be taken figuratively", however there was a purpose "for the women represent two covenants." Paul wanted to get the attention of his readers immediately and he knew he would have with the example of Hagar he used. All Jews understood Hagar was a slave and suffered from her mistress' treatment and schemes. Yet, Hagar was not completely innocent; she became arrogant and prideful of her son and was disrespectful toward Sarah. Paul related that the "One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar." "What?!" would be his reader's response. Do not forget Paul was making an example by using a graphic illustration. Paul explains that "Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children." Those who willingly turned back to the Law of Moses instead of their faith in Christ were like the prideful slave woman Hagar! Wow! They were not children of the promise of God but spiritual slaves! As Hagar brought forth a slave, so does the Law. The real promise of God held a better outcome: "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother." The fulfilled promise of God through Jesus produces better offspring fit for a heavenly realm! Children born of God not according to the faded enslavement of the law! Paul then quotes Isaiah who prophesied the changing fortunes of Israel under a new contract, "For it is written: 'Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.'" Captive Israel was spiritually barren but now enjoyed the rightful progeny of Sarah through Jesus! The new contract, covenant, was now made new through Jesus! Believers are children of the promise, the outcome of God's new contract. Hagar represents the old contract!
EXAMPLE: The other day I had a phone call from a bank that wanted me to refinance my house. I was nice and patiently explained to them that I only have about a year and a half left on my home and that my interest rate was low. She was not about to give up and explained that their rates were at an all time low. So I asked her, "Do you think it would be wise for me to refinance my home when it is almost paid for at a low rate just so I could add more years to my loan?" She was stumped. I responded, "Neither do I" and hung up. Jesus is our contract that is fully paid, Hagar represents the old contract!
How would you like to find out that your parents were not your real parents? It has happened. Jesus related that there may come a time when some folks will discover that when they thought they were children of God he never knew them. Why, because they believed in the wrong thing: works over faith. You have to have the birth certificate; you must be born again. Paul relates…
III. We are not Hagar's children! (Vv. 28-31)
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the 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, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
1. Paul makes his conclusion plain by telling the Galatians, "Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise." They were not children of Hagar and should not want to be, instead like those of us who have trusted Jesus; they were "children of the promise"! Ishmael was born under normal circumstances while Isaac was born to a barren Sarah in fulfillment of God's promise! And Paul continued by reminding them again that "At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit." Had things changed? Nope! He related, "It is the same now." Nothing had changed so why were they going back to those "weak and miserable principles?" (v. 9) Paul compared Ishmael’s persecution of Isaac to the false teachers' who desired they go back into slavery. Least they forget Ishmael mocked Isaac (Genesis 21:8-9), laughing derisively at the younger boy; why would they want any part of that? Pau tacitly reminds his readers how Sarah saw what happened and had Abraham get rid of Hagar and her son and so he asks, "But what does the 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.'" Observing the Law of Moses no longer brought any inheritance to anyone! Trying to circumnavigate God's promise was like trying to become a part of someone's family simply by moving into their home without permission or approval! They were to "get rid" of anything that would enslave them again! Those who would falsely teach that salvation is by faith plus works should be thrown out! It is fundamentally incompatible for works of the Law and the grace of God to coincide, so Paul correctly concludes, "Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." We are not Hagar's children!
EXAMPLE: Have you ever noticed a family with unruly, whiny, or disrespectful kids and thought to yourself, "Man, I am glad I am not their parent!" Come on, you know you have. I know I have also noticed some parents who I am thankful that I was not their kid! You know what I mean; where every other word out of their mouth is profanity, where yelling is their solution to misbehavior, or where they continually plead with their kids to mind to no avail. Well you know what, I am glad along with Paul to know that we are not Hagar's children!
Conclusion:
Hagar represents slavery! Hagar represents the old contract! We are not Hagar's children!
—
This article is copyrighted © 2016 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
August 28, 2015
In the annals of history no one wants to be remembered as a Wrong Way Corrigan who was an American aviator who after a transcontinental flight from Long Beach, California, to New York, flew from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, to Ireland, though his flight plan was filed to return to Long Beach. Nor do we want to be known as a Charlie Brown the cartoon character who falls for his friend Lucy's duplicitous football fakeouts or who always blows the neighborhood baseball game. And in the Bible we would not want to be equated with Hagar -- or, would we?
Paul in making his case to the Galatians has given them several examples of how they're going back to their old faith habits was headed spiritually in the wrong direction and now he gives them the example of Hagar. She was a handmaiden, servant, of Sarah Abraham's wife. Later after Sarah's scheming to circumnavigate God's plan Hagar becomes Abraham's concubine and gives birth to Ishmael, the father of the Ishmaelites who were and are still a thorn in Israel's side. Paul reminds the Galatians: Don’t be a Hagar! Let's discover why…
READ: Galatians 4:19-31
Few remember Corrigan was one of the builders of Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis or that Charlie Brown represents a steadfast constant in the cartoon lives of those around him, so what can the Galatians and we learn from Hagar? Well we discover that…
I. Hagar represents slavery! (Vv. 19-22)
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! 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 in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
1. Paul addresses his readers as "My dear children" because he saw them as such. Babes in Christ who needed to be spiritually guided and guarded and interestingly he continues by relating that "for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you"! He begins his illustration by talking about childbirth and then goes into how Abraham and Sarah circumnavigated God's plan for their children! However Paul often felt this way for those whom he had brought to faith in Jesus. He related to the Roman Christians, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love… that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-17, 19 NIV) That was always Paul's desire for those he had birthed in Christ -- he wanted them to mature in Jesus! And so he goes on to tell them "how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!" Like any loving parent he was confused by his kid's behavior and so he asks them, "Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?" Of course they were aware but they had forgotten what it had meant for them so Paul sets up his discourse by reminding them, "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman." Which were they willing to be, a child of a slave or the child of a free woman? One carried no rights or privileges and the other was the heir of all Abraham had! In fact, Abraham's "son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise." Had they forgotten the promise of God to Abraham? Sarah was convinced she knew better than God and persuaded Abraham to join her in her mischief. Yet Hagar was a slave! Hagar represents slavery!
EXAMPLE: There are few of us who would want to be slaves, however, when Gallup first asked Americans, "Do you, personally, believe in a God?" in 1944, 96% said they did. Between 94% and 98% of Americans said they believed in God in other surveys conducted through 1967. The same question was asked recently and 89% said they believe in God. And in another poll of those who had left Christianity 25% said they no longer believed in God or miracles. What does this tell us? 1) Too much easy believism is being taught, 2) less in depth discipleship is taking place, and 3) personal emotionalism is supplanting spiritual knowledge. Folks are not reading their Bibles. People therefore are willingly returning to spiritual slavery. For Paul Hagar represents slavery!
Interestingly when Mohammed was setting up Islam he did not like the idea that the people he was associated with, mainly Arabic tribes, were descendants of Ishmael. So like those who do not like certain aspects of their history, he simply changed it and made Ishmael Abraham's rightful heir and in the will of God. Yet actual history and events show otherwise. And here Paul tells the Galatians that…
II. Hagar represents the old contract! (Vv. 23-27)
These things may be taken figuratively, for 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, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."
1. Like Jesus, Paul often used examples in order to make a spiritual point and so he admits that "These things may be taken figuratively", however there was a purpose "for the women represent two covenants." Paul wanted to get the attention of his readers immediately and he knew he would have with the example of Hagar he used. All Jews understood Hagar was a slave and suffered from her mistress' treatment and schemes. Yet, Hagar was not completely innocent; she became arrogant and prideful of her son and was disrespectful toward Sarah. Paul related that the "One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar." "What?!" would be his reader's response. Do not forget Paul was making an example by using a graphic illustration. Paul explains that "Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children." Those who willingly turned back to the Law of Moses instead of their faith in Christ were like the prideful slave woman Hagar! Wow! They were not children of the promise of God but spiritual slaves! As Hagar brought forth a slave, so does the Law. The real promise of God held a better outcome: "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother." The fulfilled promise of God through Jesus produces better offspring fit for a heavenly realm! Children born of God not according to the faded enslavement of the law! Paul then quotes Isaiah who prophesied the changing fortunes of Israel under a new contract, "For it is written: 'Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.'" Captive Israel was spiritually barren but now enjoyed the rightful progeny of Sarah through Jesus! The new contract, covenant, was now made new through Jesus! Believers are children of the promise, the outcome of God's new contract. Hagar represents the old contract!
EXAMPLE: The other day I had a phone call from a bank that wanted me to refinance my house. I was nice and patiently explained to them that I only have about a year and a half left on my home and that my interest rate was low. She was not about to give up and explained that their rates were at an all time low. So I asked her, "Do you think it would be wise for me to refinance my home when it is almost paid for at a low rate just so I could add more years to my loan?" She was stumped. I responded, "Neither do I" and hung up. Jesus is our contract that is fully paid, Hagar represents the old contract!
How would you like to find out that your parents were not your real parents? It has happened. Jesus related that there may come a time when some folks will discover that when they thought they were children of God he never knew them. Why, because they believed in the wrong thing: works over faith. You have to have the birth certificate; you must be born again. Paul relates…
III. We are not Hagar's children! (Vv. 28-31)
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the 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, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
1. Paul makes his conclusion plain by telling the Galatians, "Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise." They were not children of Hagar and should not want to be, instead like those of us who have trusted Jesus; they were "children of the promise"! Ishmael was born under normal circumstances while Isaac was born to a barren Sarah in fulfillment of God's promise! And Paul continued by reminding them again that "At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit." Had things changed? Nope! He related, "It is the same now." Nothing had changed so why were they going back to those "weak and miserable principles?" (v. 9) Paul compared Ishmael’s persecution of Isaac to the false teachers' who desired they go back into slavery. Least they forget Ishmael mocked Isaac (Genesis 21:8-9), laughing derisively at the younger boy; why would they want any part of that? Pau tacitly reminds his readers how Sarah saw what happened and had Abraham get rid of Hagar and her son and so he asks, "But what does the 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.'" Observing the Law of Moses no longer brought any inheritance to anyone! Trying to circumnavigate God's promise was like trying to become a part of someone's family simply by moving into their home without permission or approval! They were to "get rid" of anything that would enslave them again! Those who would falsely teach that salvation is by faith plus works should be thrown out! It is fundamentally incompatible for works of the Law and the grace of God to coincide, so Paul correctly concludes, "Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." We are not Hagar's children!
EXAMPLE: Have you ever noticed a family with unruly, whiny, or disrespectful kids and thought to yourself, "Man, I am glad I am not their parent!" Come on, you know you have. I know I have also noticed some parents who I am thankful that I was not their kid! You know what I mean; where every other word out of their mouth is profanity, where yelling is their solution to misbehavior, or where they continually plead with their kids to mind to no avail. Well you know what, I am glad along with Paul to know that we are not Hagar's children!
Conclusion:
Hagar represents slavery! Hagar represents the old contract! We are not Hagar's children!
—
This article is copyrighted © 2016 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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