4:23
The distinction that Paul draws between the two sons, and the two mothers, is that one was born of a slave woman according to the flesh, and one was born as a result of a promise. Ishmael was the result of human effort and human reasoning. We can read about it in Genesis 16. Sarah and Abraham reasoned that nothing was happening so they came up with their own plan, seeking to fulfill God’s promise themselves. Isaac was born as the result of God’s promise. Naturally speaking there was no way that Abraham and Sarah could have a child between them, and the evidence of several years seemed to back this up.
4:24
Paul now draws an explicit parallel between the two women and the two covenants. Hagar represents the Law, Sinai, and Sarah represents the promise. Hagar did bear children, but these children were to be slaves. There are people who decry the Bible for “supporting slavery”, we see here that slavery is seen as definitely not being God’s plan for humanity, it is seen as inferior to His plan. Hagar and Ishmael are used as an example demonstrating that God never saw His promise being fulfilled through the Law. Now this does not mean the Law was of no value or purpose, nor does it mean that God does not care about the Law. In Genesis 21:17,18 we see that God makes promises to Hagar and Ishmael. They were not neglected by God.
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