32.Of what is Hagar, Sarah’s slave and the mother of Ishmael, an allegory?

Hagar is a type of Mount Sinai, that is, the Law of Moses. The fact that she was a slave, a bondmaid, shows us that the Law of Moses brings us into bondage and not into liberty.

Hagar is a type of Mount Sinai (the Law) in Arabia, and speaks of physical Israel. The Jewish people, living in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Israel, are continuing under the Law of Moses. Therefore they are as Hagar and Ishmael. They are trying to obtain the inheritance by the works of the Law, not by the promise of God; not by the supernatural grace of God that brought forth Isaac. Physical Israel remains under the bondage of the Law of Moses and brings forth "slaves."

"Isaac" is the Christian Church. The Jews must receive Christ, placing all their trust in Christ. The only true Israel of today is Christ and those who are part of Him. There is no other Israel of God (Romans 9:7,8; Galatians 6:16).

Christ spoke through the Hebrews Prophets, and the devout Jews died in the hope of redemption through Him. Now we have Christ and our hope of redemption is still in Him.

This does not mean that the Christian Church has replaced the nation of Israel in the plan of God. The nation of Israel was the Church under the old covenant. The Christian Church is the Church of God under the new covenant. It is one family, one called-out, holy nation, one Wife of the Lamb, one Body of Christ, one new man, one new Jerusalem.

In the last days Christ will appear and turn away ungodliness from Israel. Once again the nation of Jews will be the anointed of the Lord, and Jerusalem shall govern the nations of the earth.