13/05/2026
What we learnt this past Sunday (10 May 2026)
Galatians 4: 22-31 (emphasis on verse 29 & 30)
Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh (Ishmael) persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit (Isaac), even so [it is] now.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
In summary:
We are teaching on "Grace to/for the Gentiles."
Paul teaches that the two sons of Abraham are at war. The bigger brother Ishmael is against Isaac the younger brother. In verse 29 Paul says in their days they fought, even in his days (Paul), the war continued. Meaning since the beginning of this war there was never a time the two did not fight. For even Paul realized this in his days.
Paul also mentioned that even their mothers are involved in this battle. To understand this better, let's use symbolic language. Abraham , Sarah and Hagar were all gentiles. Abraham and Sarah got born. Hagar also got born again. But Hagar (picture of a gentile)was not circumcised in her heart.
We realize this because Paul says the war continued even to his day. Both Hagar and her son is up in arms against Sarah and her son. Paul uses the word persecution, meaning the elder brother is determined in his pursuits against Isaac.
Consider also Genesis 25, 26 and 27. Isaac had to battle the Philistines for the wells Abraham had dug. The Philistines here represent Ishmael, he who is against Isaac. We can here conclude that Isaac (a picture of a born again son of Abraham) is being persecuted because of his inheritance. Symbolic inheritance refers to Jesus, the Bible, the church, gifts, God etc.
So Ismael now has created his own inheritance, borrowed from Isaac the priesthood, they have their own Jesus, using our Bible, ceased the usage of gifts and praying their own way. Simply put it this way: they have their way of salvation and is exactly opposite that of Isaac.
What to do now