POR 3 Identified As Symbolic

May-June 2006 POR 1 POR 2 POR 4 POR 5 POR 6 POR 7 POR 8

Lesson 3

In the New Testament there are some symbolic passages which are identified as symbols and the meaning of those symbols is then explained. In this lesson we are going to look at one of these passages and study it. Perhaps it will give us a better understanding of how God uses symbolism. Understanding symbolism is key to understanding Revelation.

The passage we are going to consider together is found in Galatians 4. For background please read the OT passage from which this NT symbolism comes: Genesis 15-18:1-15;21. Now look at some highlight passages concerning Ishmael:

1. Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an __________ ________ whose name was Hagar. (Genesis 16:1)

2. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, ____ ____ to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” (Genesis 16:2)

3. So he went in to Hagar, and she _______ . And when she saw that she had __________ , her mistress became despised in her eyes. (Genesis 16:4)

4. And the Angel of the LORD said to her (Hagar): “ Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has _______ _____ ______ . (Genesis 16:11)

5. So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, _______ . (Genesis 16:15)

6. Abram was ___________ years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:16)

7. And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might ______ before You!” (Genesis 17:18)

8. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget ______ _________ , and I will make him a great nation. (Genesis 17:20)

9. So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and ____________ the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. (Genesis 17:23)

10. And Ishmael his son was __________ years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (Genesis 17:25)

11. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, _________ . (Genesis 21:9)

12. Therefore she said to Abraham, “__ _ this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” (Gen. 21:10)

13. And the matter was very ____________ in Abraham’s sight because of his son. (Gen.21:11)

14. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall ___ . (Gen.21:12)

15. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is _ __ .” (Gen.21:13)

16. So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and ________ in the Wilderness of Beersheba. (Gen.21:14)

17. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the _________ , and became an archer. (Gen.21:20)

18. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a ______ for him from the land of Egypt. (Gen.20:21)

Now let’s look at some highlight passages concerning Abraham’s other son, Isaac, the son of promise, the son of Sarah:

19. Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an __ , and with his descendants after him. (Genesis 17:19)

20. But ___ ___________ I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:21)

21. And the LORD ________ Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. (Genesis 21:1)

22. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—_______ . (Genesis 21:3)

23. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had ___________ him. (Genesis 21:4)

24. Now Abraham was _____ _______ years old when his son Isaac was born to him. (Genesis 21:5)

25. So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great _______ on the same day that Isaac was weaned. (Genesis 21:8)

26. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not ____ _____ with my son, namely with Isaac.” (Genesis 21:10)

27. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, ______ to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. (Genesis 21:12)

Let’s review before we continue:

28. Who was the mother of Ishmael?

29. Who was the mother of Isaac?

30. Who was the father of Ishmael?

31. Who was the father of Isaac?

32. Which woman was a bondwoman?

33. Which woman was the freewoman?

34. Which one was born according to the flesh?

35. What does it mean to be born “according to the flesh?”

36. Which child was born to the freewoman?

37. Which child was born through promise?

Now with this information under your belt, let’s take a look at the symbolic passage which is based on these events we just read in the above passages.

As you fill in the blanks below, keep in mind that the words which go in the blanks are significant words in the symbolism of this passage:

38. Tell me, you who desire to be under the ____ , do you not hear the ____? (Gal.4:21)

39. For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a ______, the other by a _________ . (Gen.21:22)

40. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the _____, and he of the freewoman through _______, (Gen.21:23)

41. Which things are symbolic. For these are the two __________ : (Gen.21:24)

42. The one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to _____, which is Hagar— (Gen. 21:24)

43. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to ________ which now is, and is in bondage with her children— (Gen.21:25)

44. But the Jerusalem above is _____, which is the mother of us all. (Gen.21:26)

45. For it is written: “ Rejoice, O barren You who do not bear,

Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more _______ than she who has a husband.” (Gen.21:27)

46. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of _________. (Gen.21:28)

47. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then _________ him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. (Gen.21:29)

48. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be ______ with the son of the freewoman.” (Gen.21:30)

49. So then, brethren, we are not children of the ________ but of the _____. (Gen.21:31)

In his letter to the Galatian Christians Paul pleaded with them to stop desiring to be under the Old Law. He told them to read the Law and learn from it why the New Law is better than the Old one. He then used Ishmael and Isaac from the Old Testament to show how the New is better.

He explained that Abraham had two sons. One son had a mother who was free (Sarah) and the other one had a mother who was a bondwoman (Hagar). Hagar and Sarah represent the two covenants. Hagar represents the Old Law because she was in bondage and those who are under the Old Law are in bondage to sin. Look at the verses below which explain the bondage and the freedom that is symbolized by Hagar and Sarah:

50. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you _____ in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (John 8:31)

51. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you ____.” (John 8:32)

52. They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in ________ to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made _____’?” (John 8:33)

53. Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a ______ of sin. (John 8:34)

56. And a _____ does not abide in the house forever, but a _____ abides forever. (John 8:35)

57. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free _____. (John 8:36)

58. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of ________ by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

59. Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of ____, that is, ___ ______ , (Hebrews 2:14)

60. And ________ those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:15)

61. For indeed He does not give ____ to angels, but He does give ____ to the seed of Abraham. (Hebrews 2: 16)

Sarah represents the New Law, the Law of Christ. Christians are not of the Old Law, but we are of the New Law. We are free from the bondage of sin. Just as the Hagar (who represents bondage) was cast out, the Old Law (which represents bondage under sin) is cast out. God would not allow Ishmael to stay and become heir with the Isaac. Therefore the Old Law and the New Law cannot exist together. He told them that they therefore must cast off the Old Law and cling to the New.

This verse below is a little confusing but by looking at the context we can understand the meaning. I am going to insert names and explanation:

For it is written: “ Rejoice, O barren (Sarah)You who do not bear, Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate (Sarah) has many more children than she (Hagar) who has a husband (they both had the same man but Hagar’s body was able to receive the seed and become pregnant...in that sense she was the one with a husband or able to make use of a husband as a seed giver).” (Galatians 4:27)

Take a look at this verse:

But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. (Gal. 4:29)

Ishmael persecuted Isaac:

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” (Gen. 21:9-10)

Paul made the point that the Jews abiding still in the Old Law (represented by Hagar) now persecuted Christians (represented by Sarah).

Extra Credit

Studying the symbolisms in Galatians 4 hopefully will make it a little easier to understand other symbolisms in God’s Word. The passage below is the whole chapter from which the OT quote in Galatians 4 is taken. Look at the verses below and try to figure out the symbolisms in them. I have made a stab at explaining the verse from this chapter that is quoted from Gal.4: For it is written: “ Rejoice, O barren (Sarah)You who do not bear, Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate (Sarah) has many more children than she (Hagar) who has a husband (they both had the same man but Hagar’s body was able to receive the seed and become pregnant...in that sense she was the one with a husband or able to make use of a husband as a seed giver).” (Galatians 4:27)

Now see if you can explain the rest of it. If you really want to grow in understanding, try to figure it out on your own before you reach for the commentary:

Isaiah 54

“Sing, O barren,you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD. (1)

“ Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords,And strengthen your stakes. (2)

For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited. (3)

“ Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. (4)

For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. (5)

For the LORD has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God. (6)

“ For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. (7)

With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the LORD, your Redeemer. (8)

For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn

that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. (9)

For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you. (10)

O you afflicted one, Tossed with tempest, and not comforted,

Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. (11)

I will make your pinnacles of rubies, Your gates of crystal,
and all your walls of precious stones. (12)

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. (13)

In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. (14)

Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.

Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. (15)

Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. (16)

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD. (17)

The next lesson will focus on one particular section of symbolism found in Revelation and examine it.