Galatians 4:24
“These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them.”
What a complicated problem the Lord delivered us from. When Adam and Eve sinned the Lord had a deliverance plan which took thousands of years to be fulfilled as well as understood.
The Law was one of the steps. The jews were blessed to be the recipients of it as well as the objects of His plan. The Law shared God's standard to the world. However it wasn't able to be kept. Thus they were enslaved to an impossible contract. It's like a homeowner with a ballon payment which rose to an unsustainable level. Peter says this in Acts 15:10, "Now therefore, why are you testing God, to put upon the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?"
If it was unable to kept, why was it given. To show us the difficulty we were in as well as what the solution would be. The Law wasn't to be a remedy. While it's important to see how the Lord wants us to relate to Him and others, we fall short.
This is the meaning of today's passage. Mount Sinai is where the Law was given. There was a new relationship with God. He would continue to lead them in the desert and into the Promised Land. It was wonderful, but limited.
The people's relationship with God was distant as much was done through the priests and sacrifices. God and His people were on different levels due to sin. While the Law brought a greater connection than was prior, it was still distant.
A great truth that can be learned is that God can resolve our insurmountable problems. Our best efforts leave us enslaved. While we will address where this analogy is going soon, it's a wonderful resolution. The dark days had a purpose.
We will bump into walls and have very difficult issues in our lives. We get stuck and need a way out. Just as Sinai had a point, so will our difficulties. The clay may complain about the potter's ways, but beauty is coming.
The key is to trust and be patient. He used the Law for a greater purpose, so He will use our difficulties for good (Romans 8:28).
Lord, thank Your for Your great redemption plan. It was costly. Thank You for paying it. Thank You for the Law, Your high standard. Thank You that it isn't our way to salvation, but a great code for living.What next?
Isaiah 9:2 is a familiar passage, “The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.” The Law provided a black canvas upon which Jesus the messiah came. This a foretelling of His coming. This is a Christmas prophecy. He is the answer. Not a method or a way, but a man, God incarnate.
He was able to keep the Law and take on the punishment reserved for us. That would be the Easter message.