What does Ishmael persecuting Isaac teach about believers and unbelievers?
Ishmael, born after the flesh, persecuted Isaac, who was born after the Spirit. That pictures the ongoing conflict between unbelievers and the believing element. It has always been this way: the fleshly, legalistic element opposes those born of promise, and Scripture says the bondwoman and her son are cast out.
Les teaches that Galatians 4:29 uses Ishmael’s persecution of Isaac as the pattern: the one born after the flesh persecuted the one born after the Spirit, and so it is now. This is the constant tension between the believing element and unbelievers. Verse 30 adds, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son,” which pictures the Law and legalism. Les also recalls Genesis: when Hagar was first pregnant, she taunted Sarah and made life miserable until Sarah told Abraham to send her away. God intervened, sent Hagar back to Sarah’s tent, and later, thirteen years afterward, directed Hagar and Ishmael back to the desert.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.