Paul uses Abraham’s two sons as an allegory: Ishmael (born of the flesh) pictures law and legalism, while Isaac (born of promise) pictures grace.
Writing to Gentile believers pressured by Judaizers, Paul contrasts the two sons to show that law and grace cannot coexist. Ishmael was cast out, so legalism must also be cast out. This is Paul’s inspired illustration that believers are not under law but under grace.
Galatians 4:22-31 — This is the passage where Paul explicitly calls the account an allegory and explains that Ishmael stands for bondage/flesh while Isaac stands for promise/freedom.
In Galatians 4, Paul writes that Abraham had two sons: one by a bondmaid (Hagar) and one by a free woman (Sarah). He who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh, but he of the free woman was by promise. Paul then says these are an allegory, pointing to two covenants. Hagar represents Mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, and corresponds to Jerusalem that is in bondage with her children. The Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. The passage culminates in verse 30 quoting Genesis: “Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.”
Les explains that God set the stage back in Genesis for the two boys to be raised in proximity and then sent apart so Paul could use them as an allegory. Ishmael stood for law and legalism; Isaac stood for grace and freedom. Just as Ishmael was sent into the wilderness, legalism must be sent out — it cannot live under the same roof with grace. He emphasizes that Ishmael was born of the flesh because Sarah’s plan was man’s idea, not God’s, while Isaac was the son of promise, miraculously given after 25 years. The point of Galatians is to prove to Gentile believers that they are not under law but under grace.
Les says God told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael out into the wilderness because Ishmael would not live under the same roof with Isaac, the son of promise. God was doing this because Paul would use it as an allegory in Galatians 4. To prove that law and grace cannot live together, Paul points out that Ishmael was sent out, so legalism must also be sent out.
Les teaches that this refers to Hagar and Ishmael, who stood for the law and for what is of the flesh. Ishmael and Isaac could have no consort or interrelationship. Just as Ishmael was completely separated from Isaac, the law cannot be mixed with grace. God didn’t give Hagar a tent next door or half a mile away — He sent them into the desert. Legalism must be totally removed.
Les points out that Hagar the Egyptian slave girl had Ishmael, and Sarai his legitimate wife had Isaac. Ishmael was born after the flesh because it was Sarah’s idea, not God’s; God had nothing to do with the birth of Ishmael. Isaac was born not by natural possibility but by God’s promise, which He had been giving for 20-25 years. God miraculously gave Isaac even when they were past childbearing age.
Paul wrote Galatians to prove to Gentile believers that they were not under law but under grace. The allegory shows that law (Ishmael) and grace (Isaac) cannot coexist. Les emphasizes that since Ishmael was sent into the desert, legalism must be treated the same way — cast out completely. Mixing law with grace cancels the very nature of the promise.
Ishmael vs. Isaac: The Allegory of Law and Grace Explained
If you enjoy it, we can always accept good constructive criticism. And many of you have already responded and have been asking about VCRs and books and literature and what have you. So yes, have VCRs available that go all the way back to Genesis 1-1, when we first began almost a year ago. And you can get them in three different sizes.
Ishmael Sent Out — Allegory of Law and Grace
Les explains that God sent Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness because Ishmael would not live under the same roof with Isaac, and this foreshadowed Paul's allegory in Galatians 4 where Ishmael stands for law and Isaac for grace.
Cast Out the Bondwoman — Law and Grace Cannot Mix
Les teaches that Galatians 4:30, 'Cast out the bondwoman and her son,' refers to Hagar and Ishmael representing the law, and that Ishmael and Isaac could have no interrelationship because they stand for law and grace respectively.
Abraham's Two Sons — Born of Flesh vs. Promise
Les identifies Hagar the Egyptian slave girl and Sarah the legitimate wife as the two mothers, explaining that Ishmael was born after the flesh while Isaac was the child of promise, miraculously given by God.
God Had Nothing to Do with Ishmael's Birth
Les emphasizes that God had nothing to do with the birth of Ishmael — it was all man's idea — while Isaac was the son of promise for 25 years.
Ishmael Sent Into the Desert — Legalism Removed
Les points out that God didn't put Hagar in a tent nearby but sent them into the desert, illustrating that the Law and legalism must be completely removed, not accommodated alongside grace.
God’s Foreknowledge vs. Free Will: How Salvation Works
Now then, if you'll come back to Genesis chapter 24, and you'll remember in our last few weeks of lessons we were dealing, of course, with Isaac and Ishmael, and how Isaac is by type a picture of grace. He was the son of promise, whereas Ishmael was the son of the flesh, and he was depicted by Paul in the book of Galatians as a picture of law.
Paul's Burden for the Galatians
Les notes Paul's strong language — 'I stand in doubt of you' — as he confronts those who desire to go back under legalism, then launches into the allegory of Abraham's two sons.
Galatians 4:22: For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Paul establishes the factual basis of the allegory — Abraham had two sons from two different women.
Galatians 4:23: But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
This contrasts Ishmael's fleshly birth with Isaac's birth through God's promise.
Galatians 4:24: Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Paul explicitly states the historical account is an allegory representing two covenants.
Galatians 4:30: Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
This is the key verse cited by Les: the bondwoman and her son must be cast out, picturing that law must be removed from grace.
Genesis 21:10: Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Sarah's demand foreshadows the allegorical casting out of the law in Galatians 4.
According to Les Feldick, Ishmael represents the law and legalism. He was born of the flesh through Hagar, and Paul uses him as the picture of the law that must be cast out.
Isaac represents grace and freedom. He was the son of promise, born miraculously through Sarah, and he pictures the grace of God resting on His promises.
Because the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. Les teaches this shows that law and grace cannot coexist — legalism must be completely removed, just as Ishmael was sent into the desert.
Watch the Teaching: Ishmael vs. Isaac: The Allegory of Law and Grace Explained