Cast Out the Slave Woman!

Ishmael, son of Hagar by Abraham, mocked Sarah at the weaning ceremony for her son Isaac. So she demanded that Abraham "cast out this slave woman." Galatians 4 enables us to understand the significance of this event as it is interpreted to us by Paul under inspiration of the Spirit. Ishmael was the son of the flesh but Isaac was the son of the promise. We, too, as Christians are children of the promise of salvation by grace through faith. Therefore, we should not live under the bondage of the law anymore with its legal requirements such as circumcision,but live in love and holiness led by the Spirit under the guiding principle of love for God and others. Re-submission to legalism must be radically rejected even as Sarah had Hagar decisevely cast out.