In the allegory in Galatians, what does Ishmael represent?
In Paul's allegory, Ishmael represents the law, which is fleshly. He is the son of the bondwoman Hagar and a child of the flesh, not of promise. Scripture says the bondwoman's son shall not be heir with the free woman's son, so Ishmael must be cast out.
Les teaches that everything in the Old Testament was for our learning, and Ishmael is a good example. Les explains that Ishmael was a child of the flesh, whereas Isaac was a child of promise. Paul, writing in Galatians, uses the allegory that Ishmael represented the law, which was fleshly, while Isaac, the son of promise, is indicative of the age of grace, the very grace of God based upon all the promises that He would form a plan of redemption. Galatians 4:30 quotes Scripture: “Cast out the bondwoman and her son,” referring to Hagar and Ishmael, “for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.” Paul writes to Gentile believers in Galatia who were being besieged by Judaizers claiming they could not be saved unless they also kept the law; Paul rejects bringing legalism into grace. Just as surely as Ishmael had to leave the whole area, God did not tell Abraham to build him a separate little tent next door so he could be in proximity.