The Double Lot Of "Isaacs"

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a masterpiece of careful reasoning and understanding of the gospel. In it Paul shows early Christians the folly of seeking to mingle certain aspects of the Old Covenant with the New. Indeed, he shows that efforts to create some sort of hybrid gospel results in absolute failure and ruins the purity of the true gospel. To change the gospel message at all is to stand accursed (1:6-9).

False teachers had infiltrated the churches of Galatia and were creating all sorts of havoc. They had succeeded in bringing those churches to the very brink of apostasy, to the complete forfeiture of grace and severance from Christ (5:4). Paul dispenses with his usual pleasantries to leap directly into the fray and the result is perhaps his most consistently hard-hitting letter.

In the latter half of chapter 4 Paul uses the example of Hagar and Sarah. Abraham had been promised a son through Sarah. Abraham and Sarah sought to move things along by Abraham having a son through Hagar, Sarah’s slave. Ishmael was the result of their union. However, Ishmael was not to be the son of promise for that child, Isaac, was to be born through Sarah (4:21-23). Paul interprets these events allegorically to show that the women represent the two covenants (24-26). From there he reminds the Galatian brethren that they, like Isaac, are children of promise (28). Modern Christians are the same.

Following this Paul makes a very interesting statement. “But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.” (29) Verses 30 and 31 show that Paul specifically had the end of Judaism in mind, something the Judiazers (the troublers of the Galatian brethren) fought tooth and nail. These false Christians would follow Paul from town to town seeking to force Old Covenant rules and regulations upon Gentile Christians to whom the Old Covenant was never given. They would persecute Paul and those who refused to compromise the gospel. Indeed, they were a constant thorn in Paul’s side.

At first glance there may appear to be very little here for we modern Christians to consider in our daily walk. However, we ought to realize that we, just as Isaac, are subject to a double lot in life. It is our lot to experience the pain of occasional persecution and the blessing of eternal inheritance.

It was not without reason that Paul said “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) There are portions of this world in which Christians will be murdered immediately upon discovery. There are portions of this world where Christians will be ostracized to such an extent that conducting business and making a living are next to impossible. In America Christians are the only people it is considered politically correct to mock and verbally attack. In an effort to remain true to Christ and His teaching through the inspired writers of Scripture Christians will be called upon to make very unpopular stands on such topics as homosexuality, abortion, and righteous living. It should never come as a surprise when such stands result in persecution.

Consider the amazing contrasts of 2 Corinthians 8b-10. “We are treated as imposters, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” One may wonder how a man facing such severe persecution could claim to always be rejoicing and possessing everything. The answer is that Paul was focusing upon the blessings of his eternal inheritance rather than the pain of his persecution (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

When will the Lord return to grant relief to His afflicted saints? I have no idea. But I do know that whether it be a day or a 1000 years saints have but to wait a little while longer for our Lord has promised that He is coming soon, bringing His recompense with Him to repay everyone for what they have done while in the body (Revelation 22:12). On that day the pain of persecution will become a distant memory for the faithful as they finally inherent in reality what had been theirs in prospect.