Why were the births of Ishmael and Isaac recorded according to Galatians 4:24?
According to Galatians 4:24, the births of Ishmael and Isaac were recorded as an allegory. Ishmael, born of the bondwoman Hagar, represents birth after the flesh; Isaac, born of the free woman, came through promise. Paul uses these two births allegorically for the age of grace.
Les teaches that Paul uses the two sons of Abraham as an allegory. Ishmael was born of Hagar, the bondmaid, after the flesh and in the energy of the flesh. Isaac was born of the free woman and was the result of the promises over almost 40 years. The whole concept of the birth of Ishmael and the birth of Isaac was for an allegory that Paul would use in the age of grace.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.