“For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.” Galatians 4:22
The journey of faith often begins with a call to step into the unknown. This was precisely the case for Abraham and Sarah, who left their family and homeland to travel to a land they had never seen, all because of a promise from God they didn’t fully grasp. Despite their initial faith, fear eventually took hold, especially for Sarah.
Aware of her advanced age and the seeming impossibility of bearing children, Sarah’s patience waned as the years passed without the fulfillment of God’s promise. In a moment of doubt and desperation, believing her age made the promise of a child impossible, Sarah suggested that Abraham have a child with her maid, Hagar. This decision, born out of fear rather than faith, is a classic example of how fear can lead us to take actions that deviate from God’s plan. God’s plan was for Sarah to have a baby, and for that family tree to eventually birth Jesus.
The apostle Paul uses this Old Testament story as an allegory in Galatians 4:24, explaining, “Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.”
Here, Hagar represents the Old Covenant of the Law, while Sarah symbolizes the New Covenant of grace under Christ. This allegory serves to illustrate a critical choice we all face: living under the law or embracing the grace offered through Jesus Christ.
Paul challenges us in Galatians 4:21, “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” This rhetorical question prompts us to consider the implications of choosing to live under the law. The law is demanding and absolute; it requires perfection. No one, except Christ, has ever adhered to every commandment perfectly. The law’s purpose is to reveal our sins, not to save us from them. It shows us that we are guilty and in need of salvation, which we cannot achieve on our own.
Christ, who was without sin, fulfilled the law completely. He bore our sins and suffered death as a substitute atonement. Through His sacrifice, He offers us grace and forgiveness—a gift that frees us from the guilt and penalties that adherence to the law would demand.
Choosing to live under the law means choosing guilt, for the law exposes our failures and sins. On the other hand, embracing grace through faith in Christ means accepting forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. This gift is not something we earn; it is freely given by God, who loves us and desires to set us free from the bondage of the law.
In conclusion, the story of Abraham, Sarah is a depiction of our spiritual journey. We can choose to bind ourselves to the impossible standards of the law, or we can accept the liberating grace of God through Jesus Christ. Let us choose grace, for it is through grace that we are truly set free.
