Why were Hagar and Ishmael cast out according to the Galatians 4 allegory?
Scripture says the bondwoman and her son were cast out because the flesh-born son persecuted the Spirit-born son and the son of the bondwoman could not be heir with the son of the free woman. In the allegory, Hagar and Ishmael picture legalism, which must be cast out.
Paul’s allegory contrasts the flesh-born Ishmael with the Spirit-born Isaac. Ishmael persecuted Isaac, and that is why they were “booted out.” Verse 30 grounds the command: “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.” Les explains that Hagar and Ishmael picture legalism. Since believers are children of the free woman, not the bondwoman, legalism is to be cast out—just as Abraham and Sarah sent Hagar and Ishmael into the desert. The same pattern continues: the unbelieving world persecutes those who adhere to Scripture.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
More Questions
Does the world still persecute believers today the way Ishmael persecuted Isaac?
That pattern has not changed: the unbelieving world outnumbers believers by a tremendous amount and is constantly trying to put them down.