“Jerusalem Which … Is In Bondage ….” Galatians 4:25
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
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.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
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.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. — Galatians 4
I put the whole section in which verse 25 is surrounded. It puts it into context.
To me, these verses from Galatians 4 (written under Inspiration from God) are a masterpiece. I think it is some of the most sublime words the Apostle Paul ever uttered.
Paul takes a passage from Genesis and applies it in such a way that, I dare say, none of us would have ever thought of when reading it. The depth and insight are absolutely astounding.
Perhaps this is some of the overflow from Paul’s experience in which he was caught up into the third Heaven/Paradise into the very presence of God Himself. The flow of understanding and insight transferred from God to Paul concerning spiritual matters must have been a wonderful experience for Paul.
I have read, reread, read again, and again this passage in the past month or so. Each time I marvel at the immensity of what Paul is trying to get across in a so few words. And he does it!
That’s just an aside ….
Here’s what I want to say …
This morning this verse hit me in a way it hasn’t before. It got me thinking about the Israel and Jerusalem that is now, at this very moment, in existence.
I’ve mentioned in a past blog about when our family went to the traveling display of artifacts and manuscripts from Israel that were at the Boston Museum of Science several years back. Included with that display was a 360 panoramic movie showing sights and scenes from Israel now. It was narrated by Leonard Nimoy —Spock.
We were so excited to go. It was exciting to see these things but … it was sort of a sad moment for all of us. Israel past and Israel present are not … the wonderful fuzzies we want them to be.
I appreciate the love and affection God has placed within us for His Land. I love the Land. It is mine by birthright in Abraham. I am a true child of Abraham, of the Seed of Abraham, by virtue of my faith in Yeshua as Saviour and Messiah.
But after seeing all the physical artifacts (a lot of which were miniature idols) along with the actual spiritual morass and darkness shown in the panoramic, I had to conclude that my heart was sort of like Yeshua’s when He lamented:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:27
Nobody loved Jerusalem more than Yeshua. And it was this level of love that caused Him to see the true condition of Jerusalem and pour out His heart knowing what lay ahead for it in just a few short years.
It’s that climate which was active in Yeshua’s time (and before) that characterizes the climate in the Land now.
We cannot, we should not, we dare not, deceive ourselves into thinking only pleasant “kumbaya” thoughts about the Israel that now is. The truth is … Israel is a mess.
It’s a mess spiritually, morally, politically, and ethnically. In some many ways it’s in such a state of disobedience to God that I shudder to think of the coming ramifications. Some of which we’re told about in His Word.
Please don’t get me wrong. I love Israel. I love Jerusalem. But I love them for, perhaps, different reasons than you might think. I love them because it is MY land. That ground is mine. My right to it is by virtue of my connection, by faith, to the promise of God to Abraham.
No I don’t have “Jewish” blood running through my veins. Neither did Abraham. He was a Gentile. And John the Immerser told us —
“And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (Matthew 3:9) In other words, it’s not by blood.
The hard, honest truth is that Jerusalem is in bondage. It was in Yeshua’s day. It was in Paul’s day. It is in our day. We must not get blinded to the fact that most of those in the Land now are lost and in need of the Saviour. The Saviour that came already, not the one so many are waiting to come for the first time.
No amount of belief in God is going to save a person … Jew or otherwise. Satan believes in God more than any of us.
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) At least Satan is smart enough to tremble.
And …
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.
I say it again … Jerusalem is in bondage. And we should weep for them even as our Saviour did. We know the Word. At least we’re supposed to anyway.
That being the case:
Let’s at least come to God in prayer for the salvation of Israel. Yes, God has done, and is doing, miraculous things in and to the Land. But we’ve read the Book. We know how it ends.
Let’s not be lulled into a stupor concerning the true spiritual condition and climate in Israel. Do a little research on the capital, Tel Aviv, and you’ll start to get a glimpse into the underbelly that we don’t like to acknowledge or think about.
Let’s pray for the peace of Jerusalem. But make no mistake, that peace only comes through salvation in Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah.
So, let’s take heart and have hope because …
Yeshua still wants to gather her under His wings. Matthew 23:27
Praise God He is!