TWO SONS AND THE INHERITANCE
The banishment of Hagar and Ishmael, by Adriaen van der Werff (1696-1697)
“Born by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Galatians 4:28-31).
By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min.
“Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit” (Galatians 4:28-29).
‘Dysfunction’ in a word describes the Old Testament account of Abraham’s tent. The struggle revolved around two brothers, Ishmael, and Isaac, and who would get the inheritance. Ishmael, the firstborn, was conceived by Abraham and Hagar. She was an Egyptian slave who gave birth to the baby at Sarah’s urging. She agreed to what was an ancient version of surrogate motherhood.
When Ishmael was born she quickly began to despise Sarah and was unwilling to give the infant boy to Sarah. In that long-ago world, when the cursed practice of slavery was common, Hagar’s baby came into the world with natural childbirth, forever marked by that culture as the child of a slave (See Genesis 16).
We can be sure Abraham loved Ishmael; he was Abraham’s only son. As those years rolled on, Hagar started believing Ishmael just might become the heir. Then she started acting like her son was the heir. After all, Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was ninety.
Can you, dear reader, feel the tension in the family!
But God!
Yahweh had His own plans.
God visited Abraham and told him Sarah would have a child. A ninety-year-old mother, Wow!
Sarah did conceive and the baby boy was named Isaac, meaning laughter. He was an infant born as a miracle of the Holy Spirit (Genesis 17:17). But his birth only increased the disfunction in the family. Hagar wanted her son to be the heir and probably thought he deserved it.
Illustrating Law and Grace
Paul used what is now a 3700-year-old story as a word picture to illustrate law and grace. Paul compared Hagar, the slave girl, to the bondage of the Law, with two anchors. One was at “Mt. Sinai in Arabia” that included the Law and the Ten Commandments. The other was at Jerusalem, a city that was literally in bondage to the Law of Moses (Galatians 4:25).
In contrast to these two, Paul said, “The Jerusalem that is above is free, speaking of the heavenly Jerusalem where Jesus is at the right hand of His Father” (Galatians 4:26).
The Weaning Party
Ishmael was a half-brother to Isaac. Sarah saw Ishmael abusing little Isaac at Isaac’s weaning party with mockery and sport. The lad was probably three or four years old.
The tension was still growing even at baby Isaac’s weaning party. The conflict continued to worsen. Sarah reached her boiling point at the party and could take no more. She firmly took her stand, leaving Abraham no room for negotiation.
Every time I read this story of the two sons, I find myself wishing I could have been there to feel the force and passion with which Sarah surely spoke. She was a woman at the end of her rope; Ishmael had teased and goaded her son for the last time.
The end had come.
“Get rid of that slave woman and her son,” Sarah said to Abraham, “for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son, Isaac” (Galatians 4:30; Genesis 21:8-14).
Abraham loved Ishmael. You can believe Abraham was under multiplied stress. He had a long day and night loaded with heavy emotional pain after Sarah dropped her bomb.
The New Beginning
The verdict came when God spoke to Abraham that night: “Don’t be so distressed about the boy and your maid servant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned” (Genesis 21:11-14).”
“Whatever Sarah tells you.” Said another way – “give the lady exactly what she wants!”
And this: “Abraham, listen to your wife”
Think about it: This story is a big life lesson for married couples to this day. The time will surely come in all marriages when a major issue has emerged in the family and the husband needs to listen to his wife!
God’s confirmation meant Abraham would send Hagar and Ishmael away.
The strife in the home left with them and a breath of fresh air blew in Abraham’s tent.
Abraham’s family was now free to walk in faith that would lead to the Messiah.
Paul’s application follows: “Now you, [Galatian brothers] like Isaac, are children of promise.” So, “get rid” of your old bondage to the Law of Moses meant for Jews, or of idols for Gentiles, and turn your hearts to the salvation that comes from Jesus Christ by grace through faith. In Christ you are not “children of the slave woman, but of the free woman” (Galatians 4:28, 31).
Isaac was the miracle baby in the Old Testament. His birth was a great wonder of the Holy Spirit because Sarah was past the age of childbearing. Isaac’s birth was also a prophecy that looked forward to the incarnation of the Messiah, Christ Jesus.
Jesus’ birth was far and away the greater miracle.
To this day, those born of the Holy Spirit in a New Birth are sons of God and they live in freedom (John 3:2).
If Abraham had made Ishmael the heir with Hagar as his mother there would have been no Messiah in Abraham’s lineage.
Islam in the Muslim world has its roots in this separation, but that story awaits another day.
At Jesus’ cross we experience a New Birth and find freedom from the bondage of sin and the Law.
A Modern ‘Ishmael’
This story also speaks to sanctifying grace. Is there an ‘Ishmael’ kind of bondage in your life, or in a church member you know? Every follower of Jesus must get rid of his or her ‘Ishmael’ before he can live in peace.
“Dear brothers, we are not slave children,” held in bondage “to the Jewish laws, but children of the free woman, acceptable to God because of our faith” (Galatians 4:31, TLB).
“Saved by His power divine.
Saved to new life sublime.
Life now is sweet and my joy is complete for I’m
Saved, saved, saved!”
By: Jack P. Scholdfield (1882-1972)
October 14, 2022 3:44 am|
I find it interesting that Abraham should not have listened to his wife when she told him to use Hagar to produce an heir, yet was directed to listen to her to send Hagar and Ishmael away. I agree that the counsel of my wife should be heeded. Pilate would have done well if he had. I’m supposing the times we shouldn’t is when know what’s God has said
November 30, 2022 3:44 pm|
Richard, I find your comments thoughtful. Had not pondered it just like that. THANKS.
I apologize for being so late responding. Please forgive me. I welcome your comments anytime.
FT