Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

In this passage, Paul is analogizing the covenant that God made with Abraham dealing with Ishmael and the covenant that God made with Abraham dealing with Isaac. Ishmael was the son born of the slave Hagar, while Isaac was the son of Promise born of Sarah.

Paul is using the picture of Hagar being in bondage when she had Ishmael to represent the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was given by God at Mount Sinai. However this law was not a law of freedom but was a law that contained a lot of “thou shalt not”. For the Jews, they had to abide by this very strict code in order to please God. It was a law that could not be completely satisfied. Hagar was the slave of Sarah and there eventually came a time where she was let go because she could not please her mistress.

Isaac was the promise child; he was a gift from God. While Ishmael was part son and part slave, Isaac was completely free. Paul analogizes the birth of Isaac with the Christian walk. In the same way that Isaac did not have to worry about losing his place as a son of Abraham so also, as Christians, we do not have to worry about following a complex set of sacrificial rituals in order to maintain our position as sons of God.

Because Ishmael was the son of Abraham, God promised that Ishmael would be a great nation. In the same way, the nation of Israel has a special blessing just because they are God’s chosen people. As Christians, our relationship with God is not one based upon our heritage; our relationship with God is based upon our freedom to choose to abstain from the things of this world and to pursue the things of God.

Two sons, one is blessed because he was the son of Abraham and one was blessed because he was the promised son of Abraham. Two sons, one was a son of bondage and one was the son of freedom. The Jews serve the Living God through their bondage of sacrifices and the rituals required of the Law of Moses. The Christians serve the Living God through their freedom knowing that Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Freedom is not free. The freedom we experience in Christianity is a result of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made upon the cross. Just as Adam and Eve had the choice to sin or not to sin, so also, we have the choice whether to follow the perfect will of God or to sin and do that which is right in our own eyes. Abraham tried to make the promises of God occur in his timing rather than the perfect timing of God and all Abraham did was make a mess.

As Christians we do not have to worry about making sacrifices to atone for our sins as we know that Christ made the ultimate sacrifice. The freedom that God has given us is not to be used on ourselves and our own selfish desires. The freedom from sacrifice does not permit us to break the law whenever we want. Just because the Jews had a long list of sacrifices to atone for their sins, it did not give them liberty to break the law.

We do not want to follow the example of Abraham who was so caught up in the promise that he tried to make it happen in his own way and his own timing. We must add temperance to our life and understand that we are living in the freedom of God and that we must wait for HIS timing to fulfill the promises that HE has made unto us.

Genesis 25:21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Isaac had the same problem his father Abraham had, his wife was barren. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be too numerous to count. However, it appeared that the linage of Abraham was about to hit a dead end since Rebekah was barren.

When Abraham saw that he was not able to bare children by Sarah, Abraham allowed himself to be talked into having a child with Hagar. Isaac on the other hand turned to the Lord and allowed God to fulfill HIS promise in HIS own way. Isaac did not try to have children by a servant, Isaac remained faithful to God and in God he put his trust.

God rewarded the faith of Isaac by giving him the desires of his heart. Isaac had to spend much time praying to God, but he was rewarded by seeing God answer his prayers. We do not know how long Rebekah was barren or how long Isaac prayed before the Lord ultimately answered his prayers, but what we do know is that Isaac was faithful and Isaac saw God’s faithfulness.

What is your prayer? What are you pleading with God for? What is it that God has shown you that HE desires to give to you but you have not received it yet? Are you faithfully waiting on HIM? Are you taking the time to entreat the Lord to fulfill HIS promises?

Too often we try to help God out. There is something that we want and rather than trusting God to give it to us, we pray and then go out and see what we can do to obtain it. We blindly follow the vain philosophy of God helps those who helps themselves. This is not how God desires us to live our lives. Instead, if God has promised you something, it does not matter how difficult things get around you, you need to be faithful to HIM because God does not lie.

The problem with us is that we often become so focused upon the thing that we want that we fail to see the lessons God is trying to teach us through this time of waiting. Isaac already served God, and because of the blessings of God, Isaac really never needed something. However, all the money in the world was not going to help Rebekah conceive a child. Isaac had to learn an important lesson that the God he served had ultimate power and that Isaac needed to trust HIM.

Satan tries to get your focus upon the problem and not the solution. Satan knows that if you become so focused upon those things that God has not given you, he has a better chance of distracting you from serving God. Instead, we must learn to follow the example of Isaac and simply take the time to put the Lord first and learn to trust God for HIS provision in HIS timing.

Abraham sinned when he tried to help God out with a promised child. Abraham was focused upon himself and not the provision of God and it ended up creating a bigger problem. Isaac added temperance to his life and rather than go out and do things the world’s way, he trusted in God and allowed God solve the problem. God had made a promise, God could not lie.

Rebekah conceived due to the persistent prayers of Isaac. God allowed Isaac to travail in prayer for a period of time, but ultimately God proved HIMSELF faithful in the life of Isaac and Rebekah. God allows you to face trials of your faith so that you will have a strong testimony of God’s provision in your life. Do not give up hope just because you have not seen an answer in so many years. Instead, remember the story of Isaac and remember to be faithful in your prayers.

Genesis 21:19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

Hagar and Ishmael had been wondering in the wilderness and they had ran out of water. Hagar saw that her son was about to die of thirst so she put him under a bush and then wondered a distance to die herself. God met Hagar there in her time of need and spoke with her and comforted her and then HE showed her the provision she needed.

Scripture does not say that the well was magically made by God. Scripture simply shows that God opened her eyes so that she saw what had always been there. When Hagar was walking in her own strength, she could not see the provision of the Lord. However, once Hagar was broken and was believing the direction of God, than she could see the provision God had established for her and Ishmael.

It is very easy to have a Hagar and Ishmael frame of mind. Something unjust happens to you and you determine in your heart that you are going to prove everyone wrong. Rather than turn to God, you blindly try to solve all your problems your own way. In your own strength you wonder around until at last, God has completely broken you. Finally, when you cry out to God, understand the meaning of the scripture where Jesus commands us to take HIS yoke upon us for it is easy.

You can continue to wonder around this life insisting that you can survive on your own. However, the longer you struggle, the harder your fall. It is much easier to stop and turn your problems over to God so that HE might direct your path. When you daily choose to follow HIM, He will make your way straight.

When you make a hasty decision, are you making it in your own strength or are you making it by the power of God? When you decide a path that is best for you and your family, are you making the decision or are you blinding following the path of Hagar that will cause you and your family great heartache? It is important that we put the things of God first in our lives. This means we need to saturate our lives with prayer and Bible reading. As we put God first in our lives, then we can be in a position that God guides us where we need to go.

The well of water was already there, but Hagar in her own strength could not see it. God’s direction for your life is right in front of you, but you too will probably never see God’s direction, protection, and provision until you sacrifice your right to be your own boss.

Ever since God gave mankind the ability to freely choose whether to obey God or to go our own way, sin has been predominate in this earth. The sin nature of mankind will naturally lead many astray. God has given you a tool that if you add to your life, it will help make you strong to resist the temptations that befall you. By adding temperance to your life, you are able to temper your actions so that you do that which is right in the eyes of God rather than what seems right in your own eyes.

Do not make your life more difficult than it ought to be. Do not fight against God unless you want to live a life in hell forever. Instead, focus your attention upon the things of God so that HE may direct your path. Ask God to open your eyes so that HE might be magnified through you. Until you surrender to HIM, your life will not be easy and you will be fighting against yourself.

Genesis 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

Ishmael and Hagar were about to be kicked out of the protection of Abraham. On the day that Isaac was weaned, Abraham put together a great feast. Sarah had always been jealous of Hagar, and Ishmael but today was the day that everything fell apart; Ishmael was mocking Isaac. Sarah saw this mocking and it did not please her. Abraham spoke with God and God said that Abraham was to send Ishmael and Hagar away.

Ishmael was the son that Abraham tried to beget as a result of him doing things the world’s ways. At this time Ishmael was approximately 16 years old. Because Ishmael mocked Isaac, he was kicked out of the tent of Abraham and he and his mother were forced to go out and fend for themselves. Isaac was the promise child and it was through Isaac that God was going to create HIS chosen people.

Ishmael probably could have resided in the tent of Abraham for many more years. However, Ishmael made the fatal mistake of mocking Isaac. Ishmael might have argued that it was only done in sport, or that he was just trying to have a little fun; but Sarah did not think it was funny and she was quick to defend her helpless baby.

Ishmael may have thought what he was doing was permissible, but he was not careful to ensure that those around him took his actions in the same spirit. Because Ishmael was under the protection of Abraham, and because Sarah did not approve of Ishmael’s behavior, he was left to fend for himself.

We must remember that other people cannot read our minds. This means that they cannot properly judge our actions in the same way we see our actions. As such, we need to be careful that we do not offend others by our behavior. Ishmael suffered some consequences to his actions that he never anticipated. So likewise, you might lose the respect of others simply because others do not read your mind and they do not have the same temperament.

As you interact with people, if you are one who likes to laugh and make lots of jokes, you need to be careful. If you are going to love your neighbor as yourself, you need to first know your neighbor well enough to know that your actions will not offend them. Just because you come from a family of jokesters, it does not mean that everyone was raised the way you were raised. You must use discretion so as to demonstrate love to your neighbor.

There are a lot of things that we like to do, but in order to show love to your neighbor as ourselves, we sometimes need to hold up. This requires that we demonstrate self-control by saying no to our personal desires in order to say yes to loving others as ourselves. By adding temperance to our daily walk, we give ourselves the tools we need in order to live our lives devoid of offenses to those around us.

Ishmael had a great setup; his father was the head of the whole camp. However, because Ishmael did not show temperance to his actions, he found himself out of the camp having to fend for himself. Ishmael had to now find his own food, he had to make and mend his own shelter, and he was without the protection of Abraham. Ishmael made a bad decision and it ended up costing both him and his mother. Be careful and do not make the same mistake.

Genesis 19:32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

God has destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. By the mercy of God, Lot escaped the destruction along with his two virgin daughters. God had instructed Lot to escape to the mountains were Lot now dwelled.

Lot’s two daughters lived on a mountain alone with their fathers. Lot has moved so far from civilization that Lot’s daughters do not have any hope for marriage. However, rather than turn their impossible problem over to God and seek God for a way that they might be married and have children, Lot’s daughters determined that if they made their father drunk with wine, they could have intercourse with their father and thus preserve their family name.

Lot’s daughters are doing something that most Christians are guilty of – not being patient for the perfect timing of God. While you may not cause a relative to become drunk and then commit incest, at some point in your life, you have most likely took matters into your hands and just did what you thought needed to be done.

God had commanded all humans to be fruitful and multiply. By having intercourse with their father, Lot’s daughters were technically obeying a general command of the Lord. What Lot’s daughters were doing in having intercourse with their father is very similar to Abraham trying to have a promise son through Hagar; it was trying to take the world’s methods in order to fulfill a spiritual command.

It does not matter what your problem is, you can wait a little bit long for the perfect timing of God. It does not matter what God has told you to do, God’s work done in God’s time will not lack God’s provision. Who knows what wonderful men that God might have had for Lot’s daughters if they would only wait a little while longer. God had sent Lot and his daughters up into the mountains and HE knew exactly where they were and what their needs were.

God may have had a couple of men who were looking for a wife but once these two daughters took matters into their own hands, God directed these men elsewhere. The daughters of Lot made a decision, and once they made this decision, their sin had an effect on the rest of their life. Their lack of self-control and willing to wait on God is memorialized in scripture as a reminder to us of how ugly sin can look when one choose to do the will of God in their own way.

Waiting on the perfect timing of God is not easy. Satan will always be quick to come up with alternate plans so that you will do something that logically sounds right at the time, but will drastically affect your life for years to come. By adding temperance to your life, you start looking at the decisions that you must make from the perspective of God. Is this HIS timing? Is this the way HE desires me to fulfill HIS perfect will? Temperance gives you the strength to focus on the decisions you must make from God’s point of view.

Lot’s daughters committed great wickedness when they caused their father to drink wine so that they might have intercourse with him. Lot’s daughters were desperate to have children, but while they had a desperate predicament, things were not so impossible that God did not have a way of escape. Do not follow the example of Lot’s daughters and put yourself in a position that you are not able to wait for the perfect timing of God.

Genesis 16:4 And he went unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Hagar was able to give to Abraham that which Sarah could not. How many years had Sarah tried to bare a son for Abraham and here, within a short period of time, Hagar had been able to conceive. Hagar had been with Sarah for approximately 10 years. She had been faithful to serve her mistress but one of the consequences was that she was unable to marry and have her own children.

Now that she had conceived a child by Abraham, Hagar considered herself greater than Sarah. No longer did Hagar feel that she needed to serve Sarah as she was the one with a child of Abraham. Maybe Hagar figured Abraham would get rid of Sarah and make her his only wife since she was able to give to Abraham that which Sarah apparently was never going to do.

The situation between Hagar and Sarah is very similar to the situation that occurred between Leah and Rachel. Both Leah and
Rachel had the same husband and they ended up fighting among each other for the affections of their husband Jacob. Hagar understood that she was simply a servant girl, but when she conceived a son, she figured her station in life should change and she despised anyone who would prevent her from obtaining a better situation for herself.

What Hagar did not understand was that it was God who had opened her womb and it was God who had closed the womb of Sarah. By despising her master, Hagar was sinning. Not only was she not respecting her authorities, she also was comparing herself with another and because she perceived that she was in a better position than another, she proudly showed that she was better.

We must understand that we cannot compare ourselves with one another. We are all sinners and if we start comparing ourselves with others, we will always find someone who is better than us and always find someone who is worse. Job was a perfect man. There was a time in the life of Job that he had great wealth, and then there was a time that God humbled Job. If one were to try to compare themselves with Job while he was down, one might think that they really had it all together. However, in truth, Job was simply going through a time of trials.

When we compare ourselves with others, we are the one who sins. We must compare ourselves with Jesus Christ, the perfect human being. When we compare our sin with HIS sinlessness, we have nothing on those around us worth bragging about. Instead of looking down on those who do not have what we have, we need to learn to pray for them and ask that God will help them grow in their relationship with HIM.

When you see your life through human eyes, you will start comparing who you are with those around you. However, when you see your life through the eyes of God, you understand that you must compare yourself with a Holy God and that you are inadequate.

Hagar could have tempered her attitude towards Sarah. Had Hagar simply remembered that Sarah was her master and remained faithful to her, she would have saved herself a lot of headaches. Instead, because Hagar did not add temperance to her life and thought that God had blessed her with a child instead of her mistress Sarah, Hagar sinned and brought additional trials to her life that did not need to occur. You also will bring additional trials in your life if you start comparing yourself with others based upon what you think is the blessings of God.

Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

God had promised Abraham a child, but Abraham and Sarah have grown weary of waiting. Rather than continuing to wait for the perfect timing of the Lord, they decide to take matters into their own hands and help the Lord fulfill HIS promises.

Sarah permitted Abraham to have sexual relations with her maid. Sarah assumed that when the child was born, she would raise the child as her own. Sarah was wrong and became very discontent with the result of her attempts to fulfill the perfect will of God in her own timing.

When we try to fulfill the perfect will of God in our own timing, our results will not be much different than Sarah’s results were. Not only will we produce something that is nowhere near the perfect will of God, but we will increase our own burdens and find that we are not content with the results of our efforts.

When God ultimately fulfilled the desires of Abraham and Sarah’s heart, HE did so in such a way that they had great joy and God added no sorrow with it. The result of Abraham and Sarah’s experiment was anything but joy and there was much anguish that still exists to this day.

If God was big enough to show Abraham where he was to move, surely God was big enough to reveal to Abraham that sleeping with Hagar was not a good idea. However, rather than take the time to see if God desired the promised son to come from Hagar, Abraham went ahead with the idea. Abraham enjoyed the pleasures of sin for a season, but the consequences of his actions had lasting impact.

Abraham heard the words of his wife and he chose to heed her words rather than fully seek the Lord. Abraham could easily justify the decision that he was making based upon the world’s standards. Abraham did not have to look far to find great men with multiple wives and concubines. He had the permission of his wife to sleep with this young girl, why should he stop and consider his actions?

Satan often comes and offers his best before the Lord brings HIS best. In this case, Satan was able to convince both Abraham and Sarah to proceed with having a child by using the world’s methods. They ended up having a child, but their faith did not increase as a result, and they simply added sorrow to their lives.

God desires that you learn to wait for HIS perfect timing. You cannot expect to succeed if you try to do the perfect will of God by using human methods. By adding temperance to your life, you will increase your self-control to say wait to difficult decisions so that you can check with God to see if you are following HIS perfect plan.

Until you learn to start waiting on the Lord, you will increase the sorrow in your life by taking matters into your own hands. Satan will deceive you into doing things that sound like the will of God but in reality, they are just your own vain efforts to satisfy the lusts of your heart. God’s perfect will will not lack God’s perfect provision. If God has shown you HIS plan for your life, do not waste your time pursuing your own path of perfecting that plan.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

You are a fool if you do not listen to counsel. You are a fool if you think that you do not need the help of others. You are a fool if you are proud of your own wisdom and strength.

God uses people. This means that God brings certain people into your life to help you with difficult decisions. When you are a child, your parents are your first counselors. Your parents guide you in the way you are to go. As you grow up, God will bring other people into your life to help show you the ways of God. From mentors to pastors to an older couple, God will bring people into your life to help show you your weaknesses and how you should deal with certain difficult decisions.

When Samuel was a young boy, God came to speak to him. However, Samuel kept running to Eli. Eventually, Eli figured out that God was trying to speak with Samuel so he gave Samuel the words to say in order to acknowledge to God that he was listening. Samuel listened to the counsel of Eli and this started a long relationship with God in which he became the prophet of God.

When Moses was traveling with the people in the wilderness, his father-in-law Jethro came and visited. Jethro saw how Moses was wearing himself out since he was the judge of all the people. Jethro advised Moses to set up judges who feared the Lord to be judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Moses followed the advise of his father-in-law. Moses had the ear of God, but God decided to use Jethro to direct Moses in the way that he should go.

However, you must be careful, just because someone gives you counsel, it does not mean that the counsel is right in the eyes of God. Sarah came to Abraham and suggested that he sleep with Hagar so that they might conceive a son in accordance with the promises of God. It was not the will of God for the promised son to come from a servant and because Abraham heeded the advise of his wife, there has been much turmoil.

A fool is one who does not listen to counsel of others. A fool is also one who chooses to do what they want when they want. God desires that you use those people whom God has put into your life to direct you in the way that you are to go. However, just because someone tells you something, it does not mean that it is the perfect will of God. You must take the counsel of others and compare it with the Bible to see if the advise you are being given is advise from God or advise from the evil one who is trying to deceive you.

Are you wise in the eyes of God or are you simply a fool? Do you spend time seeking the counsel of others so that God can guide you in the way you are to go? If you do not take the time to seek the counsel of others, then you are a fool.

Take time to add knowledge of the ways of God. The more you understand the ways of God, the easier it will be to take the counsel of your parents, spouse, pastor, or others and determine the validity of the counsel. As you draw closer to God, God will surround you with wise counselors who can help you with your difficult problems. You are not a lone ranger, allow God to use the people around you to help you do the right thing.

Genesis 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

The promised child Isaac was finally born to Abraham and Sarah and Ishmael was found mocking Isaac. Sarah requested that Abraham remove Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham had a decision to make and he did not know what to do. God came to Abraham and told him to send Ishmael and Hagar away and that God would make a nation out of Ishmael because he was Abraham’s son. However, God stated that it was Isaac who was the promised child and it was through Isaac’s seed that God’s promise would be fulfilled.

Abraham was in a position where he had to make a decision. Was he to send his son away or was he to continue to raise the son. God came to Abraham and directed Abraham in the way that he should go and Abraham immediately obeyed and sent out Hagar and Ishmael the next day.

God did not tell Abraham when Ishmael was born that there was going to come a day that he was going to have to send Ishmael away. God did not give Abraham even a two-week notice. Instead, when Abraham had a decision to make, this time, God did not show the way Abraham was to go until the very last minute.

God does not always give you perfect direction 25 years before it happens. God generally speaks to you when you have a need, when you are seeking HIS face as to what to do about your particular situation. Abraham did not need to know how to handle this situation until it arose, and it was at that time that he sought the Lord and he found HIM.

God tells you in Psalms 119:105 that HIS “word is a lamp unto [your] feet, and a light unto [your] path.” A lamp does not show the path to far in front of where you are at right this minute. Instead, a lamp provides sufficient light for your next step. There are times where God will bring you to the mountaintop and will reveal to you things HE desires to do through you in the future like HE did with Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac. While it takes great faith to hear God and obey what HE says regarding the big promises; it is the same faith that you must maintain in order to daily walk according to HIS will.

Every day you must learn to seek the will of God. There is no such thing as a small decision. If God had a perfect plan regarding where Ishmael should live, then God has a perfect plan regarding whatever issue you might be faced with today. Just as Abraham was willing to hear God’s voice when it came to making his daily decision, so too must you be willing to hear God’s voice to let you know what you are to do.

Living by faith is not a couple days in your lifetime event. Living by faith is a daily process. Daily you must come to the Lord and ask HIM what direction HE desires that you go. It takes faith to give up your right to make the “small” decisions and to learn to trust HIM in everything that you do. There is no such thing as a small decision because small decisions can have a great impact on being in the right place at the right time so that God can use you to meet the needs of others. By faith you will learn to trust the Lord with all your heart so that HE may direct your path.