Morning Moments

C. The Example 4:22-31
Exposition, Encouragement, Experience, and Example are all plentiful in the writings of Paul. In this section of our outline we discover a strong emphasis upon examples to clarify, confirm, and convey his argument against abduction by deception. The Jews prided themselves on being children of Abraham, so Paul used Abraham as the classic example. Follow the ILLUSTRATION:

God had made a promise to Abraham, time had passed, both Abraham and Sarah grew older and there were no children. Then he reminded God (as if God had forgotten) about His promise. Frankly I think God likes for us to do that because he knows that we EXPECT Him to do what He has promised. Maybe that is why He says "Prove me and see if I will not..."

Long story short, Sarah felt she was too old (he was 86 and she was 76) and barren, so she gave her husband her handmaid, Hagar, so that she might bear him a son and named him Ishmael. He was never to be the son of promise. Fourteen years later when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90, God gave the two of them a son in their old age and they named him Isaac.

1. Two Sons: Ishmael and Isaac (Gen 16 & 21)
Ishmael was not the son through which the Messiah would come into this world. He was the son of a handmaid. Isaac was the son of promise because God made the promise not only to Abraham regarding a son from Sarah.


2. Two Women: Hagar and Sarah

Although Hagar was in a sense a victim of circumstance, she and her son, Ishmael were cast out by Sarah. God also took care of them, but Isaac was the son of promise. God guides all His creation providentially, but He guides His children personally. One child was miraculously born of a woman 90 years of age. He was the one promised.


3. Two Covenants: Mt Sinai and Mt Calvary

The first covenant was one of law; the second one of liberty. The first contained ritual, the second righteousness. The first was based on law, but the second was based on love. Both were established by the shedding of blood, but the first was of animals which only covered sins, where as the second was of God's only begotten Son which cleanses from all sin.


4. Two Cities: Jerusalem here and Jerusalem there

Judaism as was known by the scribes and Pharisees was a system of religion centered in Jerusalem but the coming New Jerusalem is a city not made with hands is eternal in the heavens and its builder and maker is God. It is that city foursquare with "many mansions" described in Revelation 21.


5. Two Consequences: cast out or Heir and free

This is the crux of the whole matter. Those who think they will be save by their works will be judged by them and found lacking for no man's (or woman's) work is good enough to save, but those who throw themselves on the mercy of God and find grace and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ are FREE!

It is because of our faith that we are the true (not blood) descendants of Abraham. As he received the fulfillment of the promise through faith, so do we. It has always been by grace through faith.

Hagar and Ishmael mocked and ridiculed Sarah and Isaac, but God chose according to "the good pleasure of His will". So too will God cast out all those who base their salvation upon works and not faith alone. We are children of the FREE.

BLESSINGS!