Hagar and Sarah – Allegories for the Old and New Covenants

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Galatians 4:22-31

Steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12

God applies the story of Sarah and Hagar as examples of the old and new covenant. The old covenant is a promisory arrangement that is based on the promises of the person to do right. The new covenant is a promisory arrangement that is based on the promises of God to do right. As Sarah could not have children based on her efforts to have a child, she needed to trust that what God promised would come to pass not by her efforts but by God’s promise. So with us, for us to have victory over our addictions we can try harder to overcome or we can depend upon God to do for us what we can not do for ourselves. This trust in God is the new covenant experience.

Prayer for Today: God, we know that our own efforts to stop our addiction have produced only frustration and anxiety. Help us to hold on to You and Your promises to help us. We need Your help to even think about these things. Help us to have the faith of Abraham to hold on to You. Please work out Your will within us.