Hagar and Ishmael her son, represent the law and our flesh, the old nature. Whereas, Isaac being a type of Christ, he represents grace, which is not earned by what we do, but that which we receive freely. Grace ushers in our new nature which is the born-again experience, walking after the Spirit and not walking after the flesh. In other words, depending on God and not our willpower. Wherewith, the flesh must go, our old nature cannot live in harmony with our new nature.
The scripture reference to this Incident is found in Genesis 21:10, which reads; Wherefore she (Sarah) 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.
The bondwoman and her son refer to Hagar and her son Ishmael. Before this occurrence, to Abraham and Sarah his wife, God did promise, the couple will bring forth a son in their old age, against all odds. However, the urgency of men needs isn’t driven by God’s timing.
So it was with Abraham and Sarah, as years progress without seeing the promise of a son being born unto them. Like all believers, though we believe God’s promise to us, however, with a delay to the fulfillment of the promise, the mind is impatient and our ego and our will-power are made alive, wherewith we act without God, in hope to bring forth His promise in our life.
If we act, without waiting on God’s timing, and an error is the result of our actions, who is to be blame? This was the case with Abraham and Sarah, their urgency to bring about God’s promise, was seen through Abraham’s union with Hagar, the maid of Sarah, his wife.
Hagar serves as the equivalence of today’s surrogate mother. The result of this was a son, Ishmael, but not the promised son. Nevertheless, Abraham was satisfied with Ishmael, for Ishmael was the embodiment or the expression of Abraham’s willpower. We as human are proud of our willpower, knowing we brought about a change based on our own power and ideas.
There came a time when the true promised son was born, Isaac was the son. Within this is a lesson, we were all born with our human nature which is not after the will of God, this is the representation of Ishmael, but as believers there came a time we accept the will of God in our lives, which brought forth a new and a younger nature, the representation of Isaac.
Now, though we love our past, or the works of our hands, the representation of Ishmael, but we cannot live with our old nature. As believers, we must now choose the new nature, which is Isaac. If not, whatever we once were, that nature will take over our new nature and override whatsoever that is godly in us for the lust of the flesh.
Observe, both Ishmael and Isaac had the same father. Our old nature is who we are, but our new nature is who we ought to be, but the struggle is letting go of the things of old and the works of our hands. For many of us, it is impossible, therefore, we conclude within our understanding that we can live with both natures. Such is the modern Church, they glory in the day of worship, but comes the next day, they are drawn in the pleasure of the world and the drunkenness of their fleshly desire. If this continues, the old nature will destroy the younger nature, and ultimately the demise of the individual.
Therefore, the words of Sarah to Abraham were, cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, Isaac.
The words of Sarah were more than her own, these were the words of God (Genesis 21:12)
The Bondwoman and her son were cast out. So then, does God use individuals to illustrate a lesson without the well-being of the person? By no means, nevertheless, the error of the individual for the rejection of God’s will, their failure will serve as an illustration for others, lest they fail also.
This we know, Ishmael the oldest, tried to kill the youngest, Isaac. Thus, we read in Genesis 21:9 . . . Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
The word mocking here is far more than the idea of “playing with.” It implies persecution, this we read in Galatians 4:29 . . . he that was born after the flesh (Ishmael) persecuted him that was born after the Spirit (Isaac) Consequently, this was more than a playful gesture, for Isaac was a child and Ishmael was about 14 years older.
It is believed that Ishmael was abusive to the child. History also records, Ishmael would deceitfully shoot an arrow, and send the child into the field to retrieve the arrow, while attempting to kill him, by implying it was a mistake.
God takes notice of what children do or say in their play toward one another, these things will He reveals to the parents, it is the parent responsibility to correct or point out the error. Hagar didn’t, but Sarah did.
For the new nature cannot coexist with the old, the new nature must grow in grace, that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man (nature), which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind
(Ephesians 4:22-23)
Nevertheless, if we find ourselves in the position of Hagar, wherewith we are cast out, in our desert place, may we seek the Lord for His living water of life.
Great post! So the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael I supposed?
Hagar and Ishmael her son, represent the law and our flesh, the old nature. Whereas, Isaac being a type of Christ, he represents grace, which is not earned by what we do, but that which we receive freely. Grace ushers in our new nature which is the born-again experience, walking after the Spirit and not walking after the flesh. In other words, depending on God and not our willpower. Wherewith, the flesh must go, our old nature cannot live in harmony with our new nature.
The scripture reference to this Incident is found in Genesis 21:10, which reads; Wherefore she (Sarah) 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.
The bondwoman and her son refer to Hagar and her son Ishmael. Before this occurrence, to Abraham and Sarah his wife, God did promise, the couple will bring forth a son in their old age, against all odds. However, the urgency of men needs isn’t driven by God’s timing.
So it was with Abraham and Sarah, as years progress without seeing the promise of a son being born unto them. Like all believers, though we believe God’s promise to us, however, with a delay to the fulfillment of the promise, the mind is impatient and our ego and our will-power are made alive, wherewith we act without God, in hope to bring forth His promise in our life.
If we act, without waiting on God’s timing, and an error is the result of our actions, who is to be blame? This was the case with Abraham and Sarah, their urgency to bring about God’s promise, was seen through Abraham’s union with Hagar, the maid of Sarah, his wife.
Hagar serves as the equivalence of today’s surrogate mother. The result of this was a son, Ishmael, but not the promised son. Nevertheless, Abraham was satisfied with Ishmael, for Ishmael was the embodiment or the expression of Abraham’s willpower. We as human are proud of our willpower, knowing we brought about a change based on our own power and ideas.
There came a time when the true promised son was born, Isaac was the son. Within this is a lesson, we were all born with our human nature which is not after the will of God, this is the representation of Ishmael, but as believers there came a time we accept the will of God in our lives, which brought forth a new and a younger nature, the representation of Isaac.
Now, though we love our past, or the works of our hands, the representation of Ishmael, but we cannot live with our old nature. As believers, we must now choose the new nature, which is Isaac. If not, whatever we once were, that nature will take over our new nature and override whatsoever that is godly in us for the lust of the flesh.
Observe, both Ishmael and Isaac had the same father. Our old nature is who we are, but our new nature is who we ought to be, but the struggle is letting go of the things of old and the works of our hands. For many of us, it is impossible, therefore, we conclude within our understanding that we can live with both natures. Such is the modern Church, they glory in the day of worship, but comes the next day, they are drawn in the pleasure of the world and the drunkenness of their fleshly desire. If this continues, the old nature will destroy the younger nature, and ultimately the demise of the individual.
Therefore, the words of Sarah to Abraham were, cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, Isaac.
The words of Sarah were more than her own, these were the words of God (Genesis 21:12)
The Bondwoman and her son were cast out. So then, does God use individuals to illustrate a lesson without the well-being of the person? By no means, nevertheless, the error of the individual for the rejection of God’s will, their failure will serve as an illustration for others, lest they fail also.
This we know, Ishmael the oldest, tried to kill the youngest, Isaac. Thus, we read in Genesis 21:9 . . . Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
The word mocking here is far more than the idea of “playing with.” It implies persecution, this we read in Galatians 4:29 . . . he that was born after the flesh (Ishmael) persecuted him that was born after the Spirit (Isaac) Consequently, this was more than a playful gesture, for Isaac was a child and Ishmael was about 14 years older.
It is believed that Ishmael was abusive to the child. History also records, Ishmael would deceitfully shoot an arrow, and send the child into the field to retrieve the arrow, while attempting to kill him, by implying it was a mistake.
God takes notice of what children do or say in their play toward one another, these things will He reveals to the parents, it is the parent responsibility to correct or point out the error. Hagar didn’t, but Sarah did.
For the new nature cannot coexist with the old, the new nature must grow in grace, that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man (nature), which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind
(Ephesians 4:22-23)
Nevertheless, if we find ourselves in the position of Hagar, wherewith we are cast out, in our desert place, may we seek the Lord for His living water of life.