Galatians 4:23 – “His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.”

Extended Explanation

Paul is continuing his comparison between two sons—Ishmael and Isaac—to illustrate two different ways of relating to God. He explains that Ishmael, the son of Hagar (the slave woman), was born through human effort, while Isaac, the son of Sarah (the free woman), was born through God’s promise.

Ishmael was conceived because Abraham and Sarah took matters into their own hands. God had promised them a son, but when Sarah became impatient, she told Abraham to have a child with her servant, Hagar (Genesis 16:1-4). Ishmael’s birth was the result of human planning, not God’s direct intervention.

On the other hand, Isaac was born as a miracle. Sarah was long past childbearing age, and Abraham was very old, but God fulfilled His promise at the right time (Genesis 21:1-3). Isaac’s birth was not something that Abraham and Sarah could accomplish on their own—it was entirely God’s work.

Paul is using this story to show that there are two ways to approach faith: relying on human effort or trusting in God’s grace. The Galatians were being tempted to depend on religious laws and works to be right with God, but Paul is making it clear—salvation has always been about trusting in God’s promise, not earning it through human effort.

Historical Context

Paul is writing to Gentile believers in Galatia, who were being influenced by false teachers called the Judaizers. These teachers insisted that in order to be truly accepted by God, Gentile Christians needed to follow Jewish laws—especially circumcision.

Paul is deeply concerned because this teaching contradicted the gospel. If salvation comes by faith alone, then adding religious rules means people are trying to “help” God in the same way that Abraham and Sarah tried to “help” God by having a son through Hagar.

By using Ishmael and Isaac as examples, Paul is reminding the Galatians that salvation has always been about trusting in God’s power and promise, not about human effort or law-keeping.

Theological Implications

This verse carries an important spiritual truth: God’s way is different from human effort.

1. Human effort cannot replace God’s plan. Ishmael was the result of Abraham and Sarah trying to accomplish God’s promise through their own strength. This was not God’s way, and it created problems instead of blessings.
2. God’s promises are fulfilled by His power, not ours. Isaac was born only because God intervened. In the same way, our salvation comes from God’s grace alone, not from anything we do.
3. Legalism is relying on the flesh; faith is trusting in God. Paul is warning the Galatians that following Jewish laws to be saved is like trying to bring about God’s promise through human effort. Just as Ishmael was born “according to the flesh,” trying to earn God’s favor through religious works is also relying on the flesh instead of trusting God.

Literary Analysis

Paul uses contrast in this verse to drive home his point:

• Ishmael was born “according to the flesh” – meaning that his birth was arranged through human means.
• Isaac was born “as the result of a divine promise” – meaning that his birth was miraculous and entirely God’s doing.

This contrast highlights the difference between human effort and divine grace. Paul is setting up a spiritual lesson: just as Isaac was born through faith in God’s promise, believers are spiritually “born again” through faith, not works.

Biblical Cross-References

• Genesis 16:1-4 – The story of Hagar and Ishmael, where Abraham and Sarah try to fulfill God’s promise through human effort.
• Genesis 21:1-3 – The miraculous birth of Isaac, showing God’s power to fulfill His promise.
• Romans 9:7-8 – Paul explains that the true children of Abraham are those who come through faith, not just through physical descent.
• Galatians 3:3 – Paul asks the Galatians if they are trying to finish in the flesh what they started in the Spirit.
• Ephesians 2:8-9 – Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse challenges us to examine how we approach our relationship with God.

• Are we trusting in God’s grace, or are we trying to “help” Him by relying on our own efforts? Many people still struggle with the idea that they need to “earn” God’s favor through religious activity. This verse reminds us that salvation is about faith, not works.
• Do we truly believe that God will fulfill His promises? Abraham and Sarah’s mistake was trying to force God’s plan instead of waiting on Him. We often fall into the same trap when we act out of fear or impatience rather than trusting in God’s timing.
• Do we live as free children of promise or as slaves to religious rules? Paul is telling the Galatians that going back to the law is like choosing to be children of Hagar instead of Sarah. If we are in Christ, we are children of the promise, not of the flesh.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is seen in the way He keeps His promises. Even when Abraham and Sarah made mistakes, God remained faithful and gave them Isaac in His perfect timing.

This verse also shows that God does not require human effort to bring about His blessings. He does the work—our role is simply to trust Him. This is the heart of salvation: God, in His love, provides what we cannot do on our own.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Isaac, as the child of promise, is a foreshadowing of Jesus.

1. Both Isaac and Jesus were born by God’s power. Isaac’s birth was miraculous because Sarah was too old. Jesus’ birth was miraculous because He was born of a virgin (Luke 1:34-35).
2. Both Isaac and Jesus were the fulfillment of God’s promises. God promised Abraham that his descendants would be blessed through Isaac, and later, Jesus would come as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all nations (Galatians 3:16).
3. Jesus is the true Son of Promise. Just as Isaac was born through faith, salvation through Jesus comes through faith, not by works (Romans 4:16).

Paul is making it clear: if we belong to Jesus, we are children of the promise, just like Isaac. We do not belong to the system of law and human effort. We belong to grace.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Are you living by faith in God’s promises, or are you trying to accomplish things through your own strength?
2. Do you ever feel like you have to “earn” God’s love or approval? How does this verse challenge that thinking?
3. What are some areas in your life where you need to trust God’s timing rather than rushing ahead?
4. How does understanding that you are a child of promise change the way you see your relationship with God?
5. What are some practical ways to remind yourself to rest in God’s grace rather than striving in your own effort?

Galatians 4:23 is a powerful reminder that God’s promises do not depend on us—they depend on Him. Our job is not to try to “help” God but to trust Him completely. Just as Isaac was born through God’s power, so our salvation and spiritual life come only through faith in Christ.