Perils of Polygamy

Today’s text concludes a larger argument that started back in verse 8. Paul is attempting to convince readers that grace is better than the shame and guilt we often associate with rule following.

He starts with a comparison between then and now. Then he appeals based up the history of their personal relationship, today he draws from their ancient history and the Biblical record to map out 2 divergent paths; where the paths started, and where the paths will lead.

Paul introduces a concept in v.24 that can derail one’s understanding of Scripture. To keep us from falling off the cliff let me say a few words about Bible Interpretation: namely, history, myth, allegory, & type.

Dual Authorship: We believe that all Scripture is breathed out by God. It has it’s source and authority from the mind of God. But God chose to communicate through human authors using normal language that could be understood. Sometimes God’s message is more complex (double entendre) than what the original audience understood, but it is never less than a plain historical, grammatical meaning.

In my Bible Interpretation classes we were told, “When the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense.”

In the late 1800’s mankind started getting a little “too big for His own boots”. I’m not talking about social or political liberals, but theologicalLiberals began to teach that science is better than faith and since observable science doesn’t have a category for miracles, then they must not exist. So things like a 6 day creation, a worldwide flood, walls collapsing because of marching, a prophet living in a large creature for 3 days then being spit up on the beach, God parting the sea and thousands walking through on dry land could NOT have happened so the only reasonable way to read the Bible is as myth and allegory.

Greek philosophers like Philo and Pluto used this method to assign meaning to Greek Mythology as early as 5 centuries BC. But it is wrong to assume that Paul’s use of this word in v.24 is identical to the philosophers use of the same word. Just like today in court a person swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Which may have absolutely nothing to do with the social media influencer who “speaks her truth” about transgenderism.

Paul’s use of allegory is to take a story that he and his audience considered to be historically accurate and use that situation to illustrate a circumstance that the original actors may not have been aware of. This is frequently referred to as a type and antitype.

The type creates an indention or impression that is filled in later with the fuller understanding. Some of us may have seen an ant hill. Some of us may have even raised an ant farm in a clear container. But, just as the Bluestem grass reaches deeper than many other grasses, an Ant hill may create a deeper impression than we realize. When plaster or molten aluminum is poured into an ant hill, it may reveal an amazing reality not seen from the surface.

Because the same God who made the promise to Abraham and the same Holy Spirit who inspired Moses to write Genesis is the same Spirit who inspired Paul to write Galatians, Paul has the authority to assign a meaning to the events (that really happened) that Moses may never had realized.

Don’t let the word allegory move you toward doubting the historicity of the Bible record!

Transition: Paul starts by drawing from characters that every Judaizer, and many Galatians, would believe to be real people in a real situation or real manipulation and real promise.

The Scriptures Depict Historical Accounts (Gal 4:21-23)

Two laws (v.21)

Paul asks a probing question to verify that the Galatians knew what they were asking for.

No matter how eager teenagers are to “get out on their own”, they eventually realize adulting is not what they thought it would be like. I think most, if not every, parent of young adults has been asked to help in a “crisis” that could be traced to “that’s just the way life is”. Two of our 3 children have reached out in the last 2 weeks with “I thought when I got my tax refund I’d be able to a,b,c; but 1,2,3 happened and now I don’t know what to do.” My sister told me last Sunday that one of her children was in tears as the child described that real life is not what I thought it would be.

2. By asking this question, Paul is reminding his readers that grass is not always greener on the other side.

A popular joke shows the difference between promises and reality. A man dies and is told that he can tour heaven and hell, and then choose which place to spend eternity. He goes to hell, and the devil shows him a great time. There are golf courses, swimming pools, theaters, and every amenity one could imagine. He then visitis heaven and finds it pleasant, but a bit dull. He tells St. Peter to send him down to hell. When he gets to hell to spend his time in eternity, he finds it’s a terrible place, full of fire and misery. The man asks the devil what happened. The devil tells him: “Then you were a prospect and now you are a client.”

3. There is a version of the law that you think you want, AND there is a version of the law that enslaves; choose wisely Grasshopper!

4. He goes on to give some thoughts on two paths that diverge in the woods and uses a famous Jewish family to make his point.

Two Sons (vv.22a, 23)

Abraham’s name, which was then “Abram,” meant “father of many, but he was childless and he was 75 and his wife was 65!

After 10 years of trying, Sarah determined to help God out by giving her maid to her husband.

even a sincere and sacrificial act will lead to tragedy if we are trying to accomplish God's will in our way

Hagar bore Ishmael who became the father of the Arab people.

“helping God out of tight spots almost always leads to sorry consequences for those who try it. He's perfectly capable of taking care of His own promises.”

13 years later Sarah conceives as described in Hebrews 11:11 (ESV) — By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90 when Isaac is born.

Two Women (v.22b)

Transition: With that background in place, let’s see what this all means for readers of Galatians.

The Scriptures Describe Allegorical Types (Gal 4:24-27)

Two Covenants (vv.24-25)

1. Covenant of Law was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. We learned a month ago that this covenant will never merit eternal life, but it demonstrates how to get along with each other.

2. In Christ’s last week leading up to his crucifixion on mount Calvary, Jesus introduces “the NEW covenant in his blood”.

Two Jerusalems (v.25, Heb 12:22)

The Jerusalem where the Sanhedrin met to enforce their rules.

The writer of Hebrews picks up Paul’s reference to the Jerusalem above.

Hebrews 12:22 ESV:2016

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

This is the place where the Ultimate King of kings resides and gives peace until it comes down from Heaven in Revelation 21 after the Millennial reign, the defeat of Satan, and the Great White Throne Judgement.

V.27 is a quote from Isaiah 54:1 and speaks of a time when the Arabs will outnumber those who believe and obey the God of the Bible.

Transition: The allegory is that the world is divided into 2 groups: one group tries to do things on their own human power and ingenuity; the other trusts God to keep His promises. Let’s apply this meaning to our lives

The Scriptures Demand Personal Application (Gal 4:28-31)

Now you are... (v.28)

We are part of God’s family. We are brothers according to God’s promise through Messiah.

So, brothers, we are not... (v.31)

We are not left to our futile attempts of law keeping and human effort.

Persecution pairs with Paradise (inherit)

Ultimate freedom does not mean absence of current persecution.

Intolerance and micro-aggressions are not necessarily the persecution of which Paul speaks. We undermine the overt opposition faced by our brothers and sisters when we overreact to these.

Earlier this week Rainn Wilson, a pretty famous American TV actor, stated that there is an anti-Christian Bias in Hollywood. His Tweet reads, “I do think there is an anti-Christian bias in Hollywood. As soon as the David character in The Last of Us started reading from the Bible I knew that he was going to be a horrific villain. ‘Could there be a Bible-reading preacher on a show who is actually loving and kind’?” Phil Vischer (creator of VeggieTales) jumped in “"I think it's largely assumed in coastal circles that pulling out a Bible is always an attempt to control others. Hence... villain."

3. Yet, the only time recorded that Ishmael “persecutes” Isaac is in Gen 21:9 that involves a celebration when Isaac was weaned.

4. In the time of Paul the law keepers harassed the promise believers!

5. Whether persecution is overt or subtle, when interferes with people coming to Christ, it keeps people from stepping out of bondage and into inheritance.

6. We must never exaggerate our persecution, but we also must never let it silence us, because the persecution for believing and obeying Jesus is rewarded in eternity.

Conclusion:

You must make a choice, but be willing to live with the consequences of that choice: choosing law results in slavery, choosing Christ results in freedom.

John R.W. Stott wrote, “The religion of Ishmael is a religion of nature, of what man can do by himself without any special intervention of God. But the religion of Isaac is a religion of grace, of what God has done and does, a religion of divine initiative and divine intervention, for Isaac was born supernaturally through a divine promise. And this is what Christianity is, not ‘natural’ religion but ‘supernatural’. The Ishmaels of this world trust in themselves that they are righteous, the Isaacs trust only in God through Jesus Christ. The Ishmaels are in bondage, because this is what self-reliance always leads to; the Isaacs enjoy freedom, because it is through faith in Christ that men are set free. So we must seek to be like Isaac, not like Ishmael. We must put our trust in God through Jesus Christ. For only in Christ can we inherit the promises, receive the grace and enjoy the freedom of God.[i]

Song of Response #195. “Nothing But the Blood” Benediction: Philemon 6 (ESV) — and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

[i]Stott, John R. W. 1986. The Message of Galatians: Only One Way. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.