How to Avoid Being Dragged Off Like a Slave
“Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” (Galatians 4:21-26 WEB)
Hi dear patron,
Hagar was Sarah’s maidservant. The name “Hagar” has three probable meanings based on its etymology: 1) To flee, 2) To be dragged off, 3) To be forced into service.
None of the three meanings have positive connotations.
The Apostle Paul revealed in his epistle to the Galatians that Hagar is a picture of the Law of Moses, whereas Sarah represents Grace.
When God gave Abraham and Sarah the promise of a son, they tried to ‘help’ God to fulfill that promise according to their own understanding.
Sarah was barren, so she gave Hagar to Abraham for her (Sarah) to obtain a son through Hagar.
This decision which was born of the flesh led to lots of domestic strife between Sarah and Hagar, as well as eventually between Israel and Ishmael.
Whenever you introduce the Law of Moses into your mind and in your actions, you’re subjecting yourself to the three meanings of the name “Hagar”.
Fleeing implies fear. Instead of faith, you’ll be living under fear.
When you try to live by the Law, you’re being dragged off from being established in righteousness by faith.
Lastly, you are forced into service like a slave, because the curse of the Law is upon whoever tries to put themselves under the Law. You have effectively taken the position of a slave instead of a son.
Can you see why the devil wants to deceive people into legalism and religiosity?
If he can trick you into trying performance-based justification, you’ll be fearful, unprofitable and living as one who is accursed.
The Law of Moses is holy, righteous and true, but man is unable to become righteous through it.
If man tries to keep the Law and fails, the Law confers its curse without any mercy. Can you see how the devil has wielded the Law to become his ultimate cloaked weapon?
Man thinks he’s doing the right thing by trying to keep the Law, but actually he is just subjecting himself to death and the curse!
If Hagar never came into the picture, and Abraham just waited for God to fulfill His promise at the right time by His power, there would be no suffering.
God wants us to rest in His promises, have faith in Him and just wait for Him to cause the breakthrough to happen at His appointed time.
Don’t let yourself be dragged off from the Gospel which is righteousness by faith in Christ Jesus. Stand firm in the gift of righteousness and rely on God’s abundant grace which is constantly being supplied to you!
Just like Abraham and Sarah, we need to learn how to flow with God’s system of times and seasons by which He does everything under Heaven. This will break the cycle of disappointment and acting by the flesh. Understand this important revelation from “God’s Appointed Time: Being Fruitful in Every Season of Life”:
https://bit.ly/god-appointed-time
