When God called Abraham, Abraham was empty handed.

When God called Abraham, God blessed Abraham.

Abraham never again appeared before God empty handed.

The blessings of God can test us with strife in the growing pains.

God reveals prophecy to those He calls friends.

Maximum freedom comes with maximum forgiveness.

Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says?

The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave-wife and one from his freeborn wife.

The son of the slave-wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God's promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God's own fulfillment of his promise.

These two women serve as an illustration of God's two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them.

And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law.

But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother.

As Isaiah said,
"Rejoice, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into a joyful shout,
you who have never been in labor!
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband!"

And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.

But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.

But what do the Scriptures say about that? "Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman's son."

So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.