Abraham and the law

MoJo · Big Guppy Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 48 Location: Canada

For the most part, Christians believe the law has been done away with but there is still some confusion concerning the ten commandments. We seem to attack these discussions from mostly the same angle however there is much to be learned from Abraham concerning the law even though he lived four hundred years before it was given.

Gen 16:1 “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.” Gen 16:16 “And Abram was fourscore and six years old when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.”

We have spoken of God using similitudes and this is another. As well as literal, these people are also symbolic figures of someone or something else.

Abraham and Isaac – Jesus Christ - Gal 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many; but as of one, (Isaac) And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Jesus is synonomous of Abraham as his seed and the promises are made to Jesus through Isaac and not Ishmael.

Sarah – Jerusalem, the barren wife - Barren till Isaac, synonomous with Jesus. Gal 4:26 “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

Is 54:1 Sing, O barren that thou didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”

There are two metaphorical women spoken of here. The married wife and the one who didn’t bear.

Hagar – Mount Sinai – where the Mosaic law was given. Hagar is an Egyptian. A metaphor for captivity.

Gal 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. [25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.”

Ishmael – the mosaic law. Hagar and Ismael represent the Mosaic law to which the children of the law are in bondage.

Gal 4: [30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bond woman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. [31] So then, brethern, we are not children of the bond woman, but of the free.”
Gal 5: 1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

What is the bondage? Hagar and Ishmael as symbolic of the Mosaic law given on mount Sinai.

Gen 21:10 “Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bond-woman and her son: for the son of this bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”

All those who stay in bondage to the law will not be made heirs. The law given included the ten commandments.

Figuratively speaking then, Israel under the law was and is in bondage (in captivity) to Egypt. Stories of their literal captivity will probably reveal other allegories.

Matt: 2: 15 “And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”