A Tale of Two Brothers - November 11

Read Galatians 4:21-26 

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: 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 the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 

Reflect 

How do Abraham’s two sons represent the two covenants (the law vs. grace)? 

The Judaizers wanted to cling to the Old Covenant. They put their faith in the law and they were out to convince others to do the same. Throughout his letter to the Galatians, Paul refuted their false teachings that Gentiles needed to convert to Judaism in order to be saved and he argued that no one can add to their salvation with works of the law. The New Covenant in Jesus Christ is based on grace through faith. The Old Covenant is based on the law through works.  

In today’s passage, Paul used the Old Testament account of Abraham’s two sons, Ishmael and Isaac as an illustration to contrast the law and grace. Since the Judaizers wanted to be under the law, Paul used a true story written in the Old Testament to illustrate that God’s plan for salvation has always been based on His grace. Since they loved the law so much, they should listen to what it says, right?  

Paul reminded them that Abraham had two sons. In Genesis 12, the Lord called Abraham to leave his country because God was going to make him into a great nation. Abraham believed God and obeyed him. But in Genesis 15, we see that Abraham still did not have any children. But God reaffirmed His promised that Abraham would have a son who would be his heir. In Genesis 16, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, still had not been able to have a child. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Sarah gave her servant, Hagar, to Abraham in hopes that Hagar would bear Abraham's child in her place. It worked. Hagar became pregnant and bore Abraham a son they named Ishmael.  

But Ishmael wasn’t the son of God’s promise. In Genesis 17:15-21, God specifically told Abraham that his promised heir was to be born to him, not by a slave woman, but by his wife, Sarah, and they were to name him Isaac. God would bless Ishmael but God’s covenant would not be with him. God’s covenant was with Isaac.  

Ishmael was born “according to the flesh” because Abraham and Sarah attempted to manipulate the situation. As if God needed their help bringing about His plan! But Isaac’s birth was impossible for Abraham and Sarah to accomplish on their own. At 100 and 90, they were well past childbearing years and Sarah had been barren her entire life. Isaac was only born to them because in His grace, God supernaturally intervened. In fact, God’s covenant with Abraham had always been based on His grace. Genesis 15:6 says that Abraham was counted as righteous before God, not because of anything he did but because he had faith in God’s gracious promise to him.  

This true tale of two brothers represents a spiritual reality that applies to us even today. People, like the Judaizers, who trust in their own religious works and human efforts are the spiritual children of Hagar. They are held in spiritual bondage under the law. But people who place their faith and trust in God’s grace are spiritually free! They are the spiritual children of Sarah, heirs of God’s promise. Would you rather trust yourself for your own salvation and stay trapped in the endless and hopeless slavery of the law? Or, would you rather place your faith in God’s grace for your salvation and experience spiritual rest and freedom? The choice is yours. 

Respond  

Lord, I am thankful that it isn’t up to me to earn my own salvation. I know that I will never be able to live up to the demands of Your holy law. I am reliant on Your grace. My works will always fall short so I am placing my faith in Your work on the cross on my behalf, in order that I may be counted as righteous in Your eyes. Amen. 

Reveal  

Think of someone you know who’s always striving to prove themselves—maybe a coworker chasing success, a student overwhelmed by expectations, or a friend who measures their worth by how much they achieve. Do something small this week to remind them that they’re valued simply for who they are, not what they do. It could be as simple as sending a note that says, “I really appreciate you,” or offering to help with something they usually try to handle alone. As you do, resist the urge to fix or advise—just show them through your kindness that rest and acceptance are possible. In a world that constantly says “earn it,” a quiet act of grace can speak volumes.