Reading through Romans-Children of the free not of the flesh

9:8    "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."

Verse 9:8 refers back to Ishmael who was considered a child of the flesh. Rather than waiting for God’s promised child, Abraham and Sarah resorted to their own efforts. Although it may have been socially acceptable for Abraham to have a child by Hagar, Sarah’s hand maiden, it was not according to God’s plan. Therefore, Hagar’s child could not be counted as the son of promise. By acting on his own, Abraham created a people that still remain the enemy of Israel, or at least the present nation of Israel.

Paul was using Abraham and Sarah’s experience to teach a truth about the relationship of Jews and Gentiles. Those of the flesh, or those who follow after the flesh, as Abraham did in siring Ishmael, will never be counted as a child, or follower, of God. Paul used the example of Ishmael to demonstrate that Abraham and Sarah lacked faith.

9:9     For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

Verse 9:9 was a reference to Old Testament scriptures which revealed that Isaac was the child of promise.

"And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him" (Genesis 18:10). "And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac" (Genesis 21:1-3).

When Isaac was born, Sarah was about 90 years old and Abraham was 100 years old. Both Abraham and Sarah were incapable of having children. But, God rejuvenated them, and they continued in the good health of youth for quite a while. Sarah lived to be 127, and Abraham lived to 175.

Ishmael was the son of the flesh and Isaac was the son of promise. Paul used these two births as an allegory illustrating those who walk after the flesh and those who walk after the spirit. This was made clear in Galatians 4:28-31.

"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 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. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."

Dearest Lord, Thank you for adopting me into your family based on my faith and not my lineage!  Now I glorify you as my Father!