Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verse 29

Galatians 4:29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

At first glance, this verse seems to state the obvious. Genesis 21:9 tells us that Ishmael was “mocking” Isaac. The antagonism between the sons who were descendants of Hagar and the sons who were descendants of Sarah carry on into future generations. Psalm 83:5-6 speaks of the nation of Edom, the descendants of Ishmael, antagonizing the nation of Israel. Ironically, even in the modern world, the present day “Edomites,” the Palestinians, are still at odds with the ethnic-cultural descendants of Abraham.

But of course, Paul is being expressly “figurative.” (see Galatians 4:24). He has used the concept of literal slavery, and slavery to the law, to reverse the roles in which tradition placed Hagar and Sarah – it is the ethnic descendants of Abraham that were in bondage to the law – they were the slaves, like Hagar, and they clung to their slavery with a vengeance. The Galatians, who were Gentiles, were truly born again, truly the children of the promise, and were therefore the spiritual descendants of Abraham. The reality of the statement “it is the same now” is spiritual – and it is spiritual war! This goes all the way back to the dawn of time. I John 3:12 says that Cain murdered Abel from the sense that Cain was evil, and was jealous of Abel’s righteousness. Psalm 37:32 says “the wicked lie in wait for the righteous.” But this goes even deeper. The forces of darkness, masquerading as the forces of righteousness and light, are trying to destroy God’s people. And how subtle this distinction is – for even Ishmael can claim he is a descendant of Abraham! When the deception is wrapped in the cloak of theology and religion, it is all the easier to buy into and justify. And just like the “figurative” argument Paul makes here – where the obvious and traditional view of bloodline is reversed and even made irrelevant – so it is with us. The modern day “Judiazers” – anyone who would insist that compliance with their views or experience involving matters of race, culture or tradition define our relationship with God – argue that they agree with Paul’s conclusions in the book of Galatians – that the Jewish law cannot save us, only faith in Christ. But then they replace the Jewish law with reliance on conformity with their own culture or tradition. The implication is you can’t truly connect with God, can’t truly be part of God’s Kingdom, unless we do it their way, or become like them culturally, or worst of all – because we are part of a different ethnic group, we are rejected completely. Paul is absolutely right – truer words could not be spoken – “it is the same now.”