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Daily Devotion: Galatians 4:28-29

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Galatians 4:28-29    "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  (29)  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now."

In this 4th chapter, Paul used the account of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar to show the difference between works of the flesh and being obedient to the Spirit of God. Let's look at just a quick review of those events. God had promised a son to Abraham, but the child had not been conceived. Abraham and Sarah decided that maybe God meant for them to take care of the situation, so Sarah gave her handmaid to Abraham. Maybe God meant for the promised son to come through Hagar. You remember a son was born to Hagar and his name was Ishmael, but he was not the promised son from God. God intended to, and did, show His power in spite of the weakness of Abraham and Sarah. Isaac, the promised son, was born to Sarah when she was 90 years old and Abraham was about 100 years old.  Though the flesh was weak, God manifested His omnipotent power by giving that promised son to Abraham. In time, Isaac grew and Abraham made a great feast when Isaac was weaned. It was on that day that Ishmael began to mock and taunt Isaac, the promised son. Hagar and Ishmael were sent away at that time.

Let's look at this through spiritual eyes for a moment.  We live in the flesh and we still must contend with minds that are tainted with carnality. The flesh (Ishmael) still taunts and mocks the promised, spiritual being (Isaac). There is a warfare that goes on inside us every single day. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can enable us to overcome the flesh. Our minds can overtake our spiritual understanding. Our minds can tell us that there is no need to pray and no time to study God's Word.  Our minds can taunt us into thinking we can figure things out on our own. But the truth remains that without Jesus Christ, we have no ability to be true conquerors in this world. We must rely upon the Spirit to overcome the natural tendencies of the flesh. The good news is that though the flesh does try to persecute and taunt the Spirit, we are children of promise. God has promised and has given to us new life in Christ Jesus. Let us walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh; for, there is now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. (See Romans 8:1)

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