Man’s Way, God’s Way
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “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.” Galatians 4:22-23 ESV
As Paul continues to write about the bondage under the law and the freedom in Christ, it is like he is saying, “You were born free, so live free.” “…When we were children we were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:3-5 ESV)
Paul is making the point that you are adopted by God to be His sons and daughters, live that way. Don’t live by the principles that bring slavery. Don’t live believing you are able to do the right thing, live the right way, and please God through your own efforts and standards; live according to the promise of freedom, live as a child of God embracing adoption in Christ.
Paul then makes reference to Hagar and Sarah as an allegory contrasting two ways to achieve the purposes of God. One is man’s way, the other is depending upon God to fulfill His promise in His way and His time.
The Lord had promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations with his seed out numbering the stars. When it seemed the promise was not being fulfilled, Sarah grew impatient and came up with her own plan to fulfill God’s promise. Hagar, her Egyptian servant, gave birth to Ishmael.
Later Sarah gave birth to Isaac in fulfillment of the Lord’s promise. The conflict represented in those two brothers continues down to day, both politically and spiritually.
There remains the temptation to secure the promises of God through our own efforts and in our own way. God promises an abundant life and an eternity with Him. Mankind embraces that, but want to achieve the promise through other means and ways than what the Lord has not designed.
Human efforts continue to bear more “Ishmaels” – the Lord’s ways produce Sons and daughters of promise. These are those who find their identity in the Jerusalem “above” not the earthly, temporal Jerusalem of Mount Sinai.
Embracing the promise of God requires submission to His ways and His timing. I like Paul’s question, “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3 ESV)
In our life we need to avoid the, “thank-You-Lord,-I’ll-take-it-from-here” attitude.
Prayer for today…. Lord how true it is, “there is a way that seem right to a man…” (Proverbs 14:12) But Lord we don’t know how to truly help ourselves. Give us faith, patience and obedience to follow You and not revert to our own efforts and our own wisdom and our won way. May we follow and trust you completely.