What Old Testament story connects with being "children of promise" in Galatians 4:28? Setting the Stage: Paul’s Reminder in Galatians 4:28 “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.” (Galatians 4:28) Paul is pointing back to one specific Old Testament account—the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, contrasted with the birth of Ishmael through Hagar. The Old Testament Backdrop: Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar • Genesis 12: God calls Abram, promising, “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” • Genesis 16: Sarah (Sarai) gives Hagar to Abraham; Hagar bears Ishmael “according to the flesh.” • Genesis 17:15-19: God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah and states plainly, “I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you.” • Genesis 18:10-14: The LORD assures Abraham that Sarah will have a son “at the appointed time next year.” • Genesis 21:1-3: “The LORD visited Sarah as He had said… Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time… Abraham called the name of his son… Isaac.” Key Moments in the Story of Promise 1. A promise originally given (Genesis 12:1-3). 2. Human impatience devises an alternative (Genesis 16). 3. God restates the promise and narrows it to Sarah’s child (Genesis 17). 4. The miraculous fulfillment in Isaac’s birth (Genesis 21). 5. The dismissal of Hagar and Ishmael, affirming the covenant line through Isaac alone (Genesis 21:10-12). Why Isaac Is Called the “Child of Promise” • His conception required divine intervention—Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 (Genesis 17:17; Hebrews 11:11-12). • God’s covenant explicitly rested on him, not on Ishmael (Genesis 17:19, 21). • His birth showcased God’s faithfulness apart from human scheming (Romans 4:18-21). Connecting the Dots to Galatians 4:28 • Hagar/Ishmael represent reliance on human effort (“born according to the flesh,” Galatians 4:23). • Sarah/Isaac picture reliance on God’s promise and supernatural grace. • Believers in Christ, like Isaac, are brought into God’s family by divine promise, not by human works (Galatians 3:26-29; 4:31). • Paul’s point: if we belong to Christ, we share Isaac’s status—free, covenant heirs. Other Scriptures Echoing the Same Truth • Romans 9:7-9: “Through Isaac your descendants will be named… the children of the promise are regarded as offspring.” • Hebrews 11:11-12: Sarah receives strength to conceive because “she considered Him faithful who had promised.” • John 1:12-13: Believers are “born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh…but of God.” Living Today as Children of Promise • Rest in the finished work of Christ rather than self-effort. • Celebrate God’s faithfulness—He keeps His word, even against impossible odds. • Walk in freedom; the covenant made with Isaac’s line guarantees that believers are “no longer slaves, but sons” (Galatians 4:7). |
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