Galatians 4:29
But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
Truth to Learn
The bondage of legalism and religious acts of the flesh will not produce freedom or peace, but they may produce jealousy.
Behind the Words
The word translated “persecuted” is diōkō, which means “to pursue, either in a good sense or a bad sense.” When used as it is in this verse it is often translated as “persecute.” Paul most likely makes this point based on what Moses wrote about Isaac and Ishmael in Genesis chapter 21. In this description Moses uses the Hebrew word which is translated “laughing” or “scoffing,” but the Septuagint uses the word paidzō, which means “to make sport of” or “to mock.”
Background
About ten years after God promised Abram that he would have a son, he and Sarai still had no children. So, they decided to take matters into their own hands and have a child by Hagar, Sarai’s servant girl. But when Hagar became pregnant, she made Sarai feel even worse for not being able to bear children.
Thirteen years later, God again promised Abram that he and Sarai would have children. In fact, God promised him that he would be the father of many nations and renamed him. He would no longer be called Abram (exalted father), but Abraham (father of a multitude). Sarai (princess) was also given a new name; she was now called Sarah (nobelwoman). The amazing thing about this is that Abraham was now one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety, yet they believed that God could give them a child together. Their faith had matured.
And, true to God’s promise, a year later Sarah gave birth to a son whom they named Isaac (laughter). At the time of Isaac’s weaning (Ishmael was probably about 15 or 16 years old) they had a celebration. Here’s what Moses wrote about it:
So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. (Genesis 21:8, 9)
It is this scoffing, or mocking, that Paul makes reference to in Galatians 4:29. Since the day of Isaac’s weaning, the descendents of Ishmael (the Arabs) have been mortal enemies of the sons of Isaac (the Israelites).
Meaning Explained
The point that Paul is making in this verse is this: just at Isaac (the son of promise) was persecuted by Ishmael (the son of the flesh), so the Christians (children of promise) of the first century were being persecuted by the Jews (children of the flesh). And, these Jews in the flesh were trying to entrap the Galatian Christians in their bondage of legalism.
Application
Throughout this letter of Paul’s to the Galatian Christians, he has repeatedly shown them that the key to freedom in Christ is living by faith. Without faith, the legalistic works of the flesh will tend to make those who are in bondage jealous of those who are free.
Are you jealous of other Christians who seem to be at peace with God? Are you living by faith?
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2008 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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