21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Galatians 4:21 ESV
One man, two women, same result. Abraham "knew" both Hagar and Sarah. Both women had a son as a result of this union. But as Paul writes one was of the flesh, which alluded to the world and one "born through promise" which points to a spiritual birth and purpose.
Sarah's son was the father of a nation. Mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. While Hagar's son, Ishmael, was the father of a faith of which many of the adherents remain in conflict with God's elect. Why did the same natural act have such vastly different spiritual results? In one word--obedience. Abraham stepped outside of God's perfect plan for his life when he slept with Hagar. He and Sarah thought God needed help. Yahweh was not moving quick enough for them. As a result, countless lives have been lost, families ruined, and nations toppled.
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