Sometimes the Bible can be confusing, right? There's many times I'll read through parts of scripture and have literally no clue what is important or useful. I can honestly get bored with repetition as well......anyone else?
It's only been the last few years that I have been taught some key things that give me encouragement and a different degree of understanding when I am in those moments of study that I want to share with you.
Reading the word, regardless of your present understanding, nourishes you. Pastor Bill Johnson taught me that just as most of us have absolutely no recollection of what we ate for breakfast a few days ago, or the nutrients in our dinner last night- yet, we still eat and it fuels our body regardless....right? Reading the word nourishes us, period. Keep eating.
Repetition is God's way of highlighting. Obvious, right? And yet, having this at the forefront of your mind makes repetition interesting rather than.....well, repetitive. When scripture revisits the same theme over and over and over, TAKE NOTICE.
These two points are hanging out in my mind as I continue through Galatians this morning. Paul's repetitive nature in this letter is a reminder to me that in my own circle of influence to teach and equip--framing and re-framing concepts to a learning audience isn't redundant, necessarily. It actually can be clarifying and revealing to intentionally hit the same important concept over and over. It's the word picture of shining light on the different facets of a crystal. Depending on which facet you highlight, a different color is produced. Such is the nature of Galatians, such is the nature of scripture.
So, today we revisit, with another illustration the difference between being under the law and free in Christ. Let's dive in where we left off (Galatians 4:21-31)
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. but the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically (my emphasis): these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. but the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
"Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband."
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
OK. We get it Paul!!! Being under the law sucks! lol. But seriously. This part of Paul's clarification process- I think- is a real-time example of what it is to move in the Spirit. Let me explain. There have been many times in my life that I will begin to explain something or give context to a concept, when, right in the middle of my attempts to shed light on a subject- I have this amazing illustration that explains what I was trying to explain much, much better. I think it's possible this is what is happening in Paul's letter. Holy Spirit is totally speaking right here. It's like God takes over and says "Paul, go back and show them the allegorically what Hagar and Sarah represent- bring it back to the Word and reveal what that story is saying." I may be wrong, but man, it feels like this is possible. The cool part, appealing to the Torah and using the exact source that these people were being coerced back into the law by is brilliant. Why? Because the Word doesn't contradict itself and the reality was that the Torah was in agreement with Jesus and the freedom He provides! So cool.
Remember in the beginning of Galatians we looked at the importance of the promise? The promise is what packaged salvation in grace and faith and made it available to everyone. The promise was something Abraham could only grasp with hope and trust and not something he could physically hold on to or make happen....using his life experience to reveal another facet of God's new covenant-in Jesus- showed these people that while they had the choice to remain under the law (demonstrated by Abraham having a child with Hagar- making God's promise take place within his own doing) OR receive freedom in Christ (demonstrated by the miraculous faithfulness of God through Isaac)--that doing is not the answer, being is.
Alright, that in mind, let's look at how Paul explains the allegory of Abraham's sons.
Abe had two sons- Ishmael and Isaac. One son came about because God's promise had not come to fruition and, being afraid of the fact there was no physical heir in their midst, Abe and Sarah decided to get that taken care of on their own and had Abe get intimate with Hagar. Why is this considered to be a word picture for slavery (or the covenant under the law)? Because it was done through human intervention and not God's provision. Abraham WAS under the law because of the time he lived- Jesus wasn't on the scene, yet. Taking matters into his own hands produced an heir, but produced an heir that REMAINED under the law rather than waiting on God to intervene and produce an heir that came from HIS power and promise. Get it? Isaac was the child of promise BECAUSE he was born from the Lord's provision. Just because we can get something done for God doesn't meant it is a part of God's plan.....
Fear has no place in God (1 John 4:18). God is perfect love. While we have a reverent fear of Him (and, yes, the awareness of God can be terrifyingly awesome- and should be...that's a different conversation). The motivation of doing things in order to gain favor or salvation or righteousness with Him IS the old covenant and puts anyone that does back under something that has been eradicated by Jesus.
Paul continues with his explanation of the difference between present Jerusalem (represented by Hagar and her children Genesis 21:18) and the "above" Jerusalem that is our mother. Ok- here's the weird stuff, at least for me, I come across and have to stop and ask Holy Spirit for help in understanding. Elsewhere in scripture, there are references of a heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22). I would propose that the "heavenly Jerusalem" is the fulfillment of God's family including all of us. Natural Jerusalem, God's chosen, is relegated to His people of the old covenant- the Jews. Heavenly Jerusalem- whom is OUR mother (remember, Paul is talking to the Galatians, recognized Gentiles) is the higher reality and chosen dwelling for all tribes and nations.
So, why Paul's reference to Isaiah 54?
Get excited, this is cool!!
Let's look at Isaiah 54, but not just verse 1, lets look at 1-3
Sing, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the
desolate woman
than of her who has a husband, says the Lord
Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations and
settle in desolate cities.
Paul caps off his description with the first part of Isaiah 54. To remind you- there were no verses or chapters at the time of this letter, chapters and verse numbers weren't added to the OT until hundreds of years later!! He wasn't reminding the Galatians about Isaiah 54:1, He was calling to remembrance that particular part of scripture- why? Is it possible that they would be reminded that the woman without a son becomes the woman of a great nation? That the expansion of the tent- the word picture for the increase of His kingdom- would come from the woman awaiting an heir? I don't know, but it is quite amazing that the excerpt from this prophet's book would call to remembrance not just Sarah's story, but the outcome of it.
Finally, Paul addresses the conflict between the children of promise and the children of the law. He points out that what they are experiencing in persecution and persuasion because of their freedom in Christ is the demonstration of the actual conflict between followers of the different covenants. The fact they are enduring what they are is actually a sign that supports their decision to believe in Jesus.
Sometimes, we need to be reminded that the present persecution, difference of opinion, offense, etc is a sign we are going in the right direction rather than changing course to assimilate with the status quo. #Amiright?
You can't inherit the fullness of God by keeping one foot in and one foot out. If we choose to be bound to "elementary forces", as Paul puts it, we put ourselves under the very thing that Jesus replaced. We get sucked back into performance-based sanctification and no longer have our portion of His promise. I would suggest it is possible this is why we see a disempowered church to be prevalent. Jesus didn't come to release a great philosophy on this earth- He came to release His power and His Spirit that we may become a victorious bride in the freedom and fullness of heaven, at least that's what I see in my Bible!
Isn't it interesting to study and see the same things recur in our own time? Isn't it interesting that those that move in the most freedom tend to be the ones that are reigned back into the "church" (which body do we come from? who is our mother)??? I'm getting ahead of myself in our study with this, but friends, those around us experiencing the fullness of what Jesus made available (John 10:10) are the ones moving in the new covenant and, perhaps, like Paul- should be the ones we are all listening to.....perhaps.
Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Amen. Lyns
NEW!!! Key Points from today's post:
"Reading the word, regardless of your present understanding, nourishes you. Repetition is God's way of highlighting."
This highlights the importance of reading the Bible for personal growth and the significance of repetition in scripture.
"It actually can be clarifying and revealing to intentionally hit the same important concept over and over. It's the word picture of shining light on the different facets of a crystal."
Emphasizes the value of repeating important concepts in scripture to gain a deeper understanding.
"Abe had two sons- Ishmael and Isaac. One son came about because God's promise had not come to fruition... Just because we can get something done for God doesn't mean it is a part of God's plan..."
Explains the allegory of Abraham's two sons, illustrating the difference between human intervention and God's provision.
"Fear has no place in God (1 John 4:18). God is perfect love... doing is not the answer, being is."
Discusses the role of fear and doing in relation to God's love and salvation.
"Finally, Paul addresses the conflict between the children of promise and the children of the law... a sign we are going in the right direction rather than changing course to assimilate with the status quo."
Highlights the conflict between followers of different covenants and the idea that facing persecution can be a sign of following the right path.
"You can't inherit the fullness of God by keeping one foot in and one foot out... those around us experiencing the fullness of what Jesus made available are the ones moving in the new covenant."
Emphasizes the importance of wholehearted commitment to God's covenant and the freedom offered by Christ.
"Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."
Ends with a powerful Bible verse that reinforces the theme of freedom and avoiding a return to bondage.
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