In the Bible, Abraham allegory is a study of the law vs grace.
Abraham allegory (Gal 4:21-31)
Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman; Hagar, and another by a free woman; Sarah.
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free-woman.
Ishmael
Ishmael is a son born of Abraham and Hagar. He was born through Sarah’s plan, seen that she could not bear Abraham a child.
Gen 16:1-2, 15: Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray you, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael
God had made a promise with Abraham that He will give Him his own son before Sarah’s plan.
Gen 15:4: And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, this shall not be your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be thine heir.
Sarah was acting fleshly, trying to solve a problem seen that Abraham was growing old thus Ishmael is referred to as ‘the son born after to the flesh‘.
Verse 23: But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh
Isaac
Isaac is a son born of Abraham and Sarah and he is the son God promised Abraham; the son of promise. But he of the free woman was by promise.
He was born when Abraham was hundred years and Sarah ninety years.
Law vs Grace
In Abraham’s life there are two women; Sarah and Hagar, each with a son.
The two women represent two covenants. Hagar represents the Old Covenant, the law, while Sarah represents the New Covenant, grace.
Hagar is Mount Sinai
Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. Remember that the law, both God laws and Mosaic laws, were given in Mount Sinai.
The covenant from Mount Sinai is the law which bears fleshly children unto slavery. …The one from the Mount Sinai, which gendered to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia.
Sarah is Jerusalem
Sarah is Jerusalem in Israel. She gives birth to children of promise who are free (freedom); children of grace.
Sarah gave birth to Isaac a child of promise.
Children of Sarah vs children of Hagar
1. Freedom vs Bondage
Sarah, the New Testament, gives birth to children of promise who are free unlike the children of Hagar, Old Testament, who are in bondage.
People under the law are children of Hagar and descendants of Ishmael while people not under the law, under grace, are children of Sarah and descendants of Isaac.
For us Christians, Sarah is our mother and we are children of promise not bound by the law but living free under grace.
2. Different living places
Children of Sarah live in Jerusalem, a land of freedom, but Jerusalem which is above is free, while children of Hagar are outside Jerusalem (this needs wisdom).
All Bible laws were given in Mount Sinai which is outside Jerusalem. Jerusalem is under no law.
Jerusalem (Israel) is free but all who surrounds her are in bondage (look out for world map and see the countries surrounding Jerusalem).
All children of Hagar dwell in the nations surrounding Israel but Israel is only inhibited by children of Hagar (This needs an understanding).
3. Promise vs flesh
Jesus was born in the lineage of Isaac in the land of freedom. Like Isaac, He was a child of promise like we who are not under the law. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Jesus did not come from the lineage of Ishmael because all children of Hagar are in bondage and born of flesh.
We, who are not under the law, are all born in the lineage of Isaac thus we are his descendants and seed, including our savior Jesus Christ, and we all bear the everlasting covenant of God.
Gen 17:19: And God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed; and you shall call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. We are indeed his seed.
4. Ishmael mocked Isaac
Ishmael mocked Isaac. Gen 21:9: And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
Even today, people under the law are always mocking those under grace.
Today children of Hagar persecute children of Sarah and always fighting to put children of Sarah (Christians) under the law and be answerable to the law as they are (needs wisdom to understand).
5. Heir of heavenly kingdom
Sarah said that her son and Isaac will never be an heir with the child of the bond woman and God coincided with her.
Gen 21:10: Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Prophecy: Sarah used the words, ‘my son, even with Isaac’ meaning she knew she had another son (Jesus) and others apart from Isaac.
The son of the bondwoman, Hagar, is cast out and he is not an heir of the heavenly kingdom with the son of Sarah; Jesus.
Those under the law will never inherit the kingdom of heaven with those under grace (free).
All this needs wisdom.
God has given you the right to choose: – Are you a child of Sarah and a descendant of Isaac (grace) or a child of Hagar a descendant of Ishmael (law)?
God bless
