Concerns for the Galatians – Galatians 4

Joy:  You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #166.  Today we’ll read Galatians chapter 4 together:  Paul explains his concerns for the Galatians and uses Sarah and Hagar as examples of two covenants.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

I’m so excited!  I just made plans to visit our older daughter who lives in Reno.  I’ll drive over next week and spend a couple of days just to catch up.  We had a visit on the calendar in April – April! – but thought better of it because, well, you all know why.  I admire families who are disciplined about staying in touch.  Zoom meetings every week with the kids and grandkids.  I should be doing that, I guess, that’s just not our style.  We do text a lot, though.   But I do hunger for the face to face and I can honestly say that I can’t wait.  

These days, a visit like this has double benefits, doesn’t it?  Not only do I get to have a long-overdue visit with Wendy, but I get to actually go somewhere too!  I have no idea whether Nevada is opened up or not.  Can we go out to eat there?  Can we go shopping?   I guess I’ll take my mask and my credit card and be surprised.

How about you?  Are you out and about like usual or is it a special treat to hop in the car or on a plane these days?  Let me know what you’re doing to keep the cabin fever at bay on Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

I have a little trip planned with my sister next month too, but I’ll tell you about that when it gets a little closer.  

Galatians Chapter 4

Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years. I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have not wronged me; you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh. You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.

Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth? They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. But it is always good to be pursued in a good manner — and not just when I am with you. My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.

Sarah and Hagar: Two Covenants

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery — this is Hagar. Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,

Rejoice, childless woman,

unable to give birth.

Burst into song and shout,

you who are not in labor,

for the children of the desolate woman will be many,

more numerous than those

of the woman who has a husband.

Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit, so also now. But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.” Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.

Closing Thoughts

Before I dive in on the things that attract me to this part of Paul’s letter, I want to encourage you to check out the notes in any good study Bible.  To my pastor’s chagrin, I most always default to John MacArthur, but there are lots of good ones.  

There is so much going on in the background here.  For instance, some think that the illness Paul is speaking of in this chapter is malaria, which he may have contracted in Pamphylia.  A memory came back to me from our first trip to Tanzania.  Our precious Pastor Arnold came down with malaria while we were there.  He was so sick but kept pressing on.  He would take his medicine, get some rest and then push on with us.  I mean, malaria is serious, but apparently Paul did the same thing with the Galatians.  I just love learning about what is going on in the lives of those we read about in the Scriptures.  

The tone of this chapter is precious…Paul is like a mother hen fretting over her chicks.  He scolds, but you can tell that it comes out of a sincere concern over his brothers and sisters in Christ living according to the truth they know.  He is so frustrated by these legalists coming in and trying to lead the Galatians astray; away from the Spirit that saved them.  

Now, the comparison between Sarah and Hagar is a little more meaningful when you’ve read the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis.  But the important thing to walk away with today?  We are children of promise!  Let’s pray.

Prayer

Oh, Lord, thank You so much that You have had a plan of redemption for us since the beginning.  Thank You that we are children of Your promise…the promise of Christ.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.