[pastorbillrandles]

Whatever you say TopCat- For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Galatians 4

[topcat54]

Whatever you say TopCat- For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Galatians 4

Reading the context, it’s clear that Paul was using Hagar (and Ishmael by extension?) as an allegory of earthly Mt. Sinai (where the law was given) and earthly Jerusalem in his day. (Not today.) By way of contrast, Sarah represents the heavenly Jerusalem, the true spiritual people of God, the true sons of Abraham. So in Paul’s thinking, it’s unbelieving Israel vs. believing Israel (the remnant). Paul is urging his gentile brethren to make sure they are associating with the heavenly Jerusalem/Israel, and not the earthly, which is still under bondage to the law of Moses.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the present Israeli/Arab conflict. It may, however, speak to those who still mistakenly pin their ideas/hopes on a future earthly Jerusalem. So my comment stands.