Sibling rivalry is common. Brothers and sisters bicker over both silly and significant things. Most siblings outgrow their differences, but some carry their conflict into adulthood. Because of the intimacy of the brother-sister relationship, sibling rivalry can be painful.

As Paul closes chapter 4 of Galatians, he continues the narrative of brothers Isaac (“son of promise”) and Ishmael (“son born according to the flesh”). Paul again addresses his readers as “brothers and sisters” (v. 28). Then, he calls them all “children of promise”—like Isaac. They are all, Gentiles and Jews, legitimate heirs of Abraham, recipients of the blessing, and the beloved family of God. Despite this equal status, the “Spirit son” was persecuted by the “flesh son” (v. 29). This happened when the Israelites and Ishmaelites were in conflict (see Judges 8). But, says Paul, a similar conflict continued when the false teachers harassed the Gentile Christians in Galatia, luring them away from the true gospel of grace.

To address this abuse, Paul draws on another Old Testament quote (Gen. 21:10). When Sarah, wife of Abraham, experienced the mocking of Hagar, she asked that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. Although this distressed Abraham, God comforted him and affirmed Sarah’s directive. God was delivering His promise through Isaac. If Ishmael remained, the conflict would have continued and perhaps even escalated.

Paul uses the words of Sarah herself—mother of Ishmael and Isaac—to speak to the Galatian Christians, challenging them to “get rid of” the false teachers once and for all (v. 30). Paul appeals to them as his “brothers and sisters,” reminding them of their true identity as children of “the free woman” (v. 31). He uses the first-person plural “we” and includes himself in that category.

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