"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." (Gal. 4:28-31).
Paul states that Isaac was a child of promise, because God promised Abraham that he and his wife Sarah would have a child despite their old age. But after years passed without a child they decided to take matters into their own hands. Abraham had a child with Sarah's servant Hagar. Paul stated that as this son of Abraham's plan(Ismael) was born after the flesh and persecuted him that was born after the Spirit so it was in his day. Paul was likening the Jews of his day, that trusted in their self righteousness, as being the persecutors of those that trusted in Christ.
Interestingly, Ishmael's literal descendants, (Arabs), also continued to hate the Jew and persecute them until this day. Over three hundred millions muslims of arabic descent surround the nation of Israel today. And the majority of them would like to see Israel wiped off the map. The conflict that exist between Jews and muslims is one of the fruits of Abraham coming up with his own plan rather then trusting God's promise. Trust in God's promises rather then your own plans.
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