Isaac

22The Bible says Abraham had two sons. One son's mother was a slave. The other son's mother was free.

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

NoteAbraham lived a very long time ago. God chose him and promised him a big family. His wife was named Sarah. The slave woman in their house was named Hagar.

23The slave woman's son was born the ordinary way. The free woman's son was born because God promised him.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

NoteSarah was very old and had no children. God promised her a baby anyway. Hagar's baby came the usual way.

24These things are a picture of something more. The two women stand for two agreements between God and people. One agreement came from Mount Sinai. Its children are born as slaves. That agreement is Hagar.

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

NoteMount Sinai is the mountain where Moses got God's rules. An agreement like this is also called a covenant.

25Hagar stands for Mount Sinai, a mountain in Arabia. She matches the city of Jerusalem as it is today. That city and her children are slaves.

For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

NoteArabia is a dry desert land. Jerusalem was the main city of God's people.

26But there is a Jerusalem above. That one is free. She is our mother.

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

NotePaul means God's own city, up in heaven. It is not a city you could find on a map.

27The Bible says, "Be glad, woman who has no children. Shout for joy, you who never gave birth. The woman left alone will have more children than the woman with a husband."

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.

NoteThese words come from Isaiah, a prophet. A prophet was someone who told people what God said. Back then a woman with no children felt very sad and alone.

28Brothers and sisters, we are like Isaac. We are the children God promised.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

NoteIsaac was the son God promised to Abraham and Sarah.

29Back then the son born the ordinary way made trouble for his brother. That brother was born by God's Spirit. The same thing happens now.

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

NoteThe two brothers were Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was older, and he made fun of Isaac.

30But what does the Bible say? "Send the slave woman and her son away. The slave woman's son will not share what the free woman's son receives."

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.

NoteThese words come from Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Sarah said them about Hagar and her son.

31So, brothers and sisters, we are not the slave woman's children. We are the free woman's children.

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

17Abraham trusted God when God tested him. He offered Isaac up to God. God had made Abraham big promises. Even so, he was willing to give up his only son.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

NoteGod asked Abraham to give Isaac up as a gift. Abraham was willing. Then God stopped him and let Isaac live.

18God had told him, "Your family will be counted through Isaac."

Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

NoteFamily here means children, grandchildren, and everyone born after them.

19Abraham believed God could even bring the dead back to life. And in a way, he did get Isaac back from death.

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20Isaac trusted God. He blessed Jacob and Esau about things that were still to come.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

NoteJacob and Esau were Isaac's twin sons. A blessing was special words a father said about his children's future. People believed those words really mattered.

21Abraham is the father of our people. God counted him right because of what he did. He laid his son Isaac on the altar.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Note"Justified" means God counted him as right with him. Abraham lived long before Jesus, and God's people called him their father. In the old story God asked Abraham to give Isaac back to him. Abraham obeyed, and God stopped him. Isaac was not hurt. An altar was a place where gifts were offered to God.

22You see that his faith and his actions worked together. What he did made his faith complete.

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Note"Wrought" is an old word for worked. "Made perfect" means finished or made complete, not free of mistakes.

23So the Bible words came true: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as right." And Abraham was called God's friend.

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Note"Imputed unto him for righteousness" means God counted him as right with him. The words are quoted from an older part of the Bible.

24So you see, a person is counted right with God by what he does, and not by faith alone.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.