 |  |
The 430 years date from the call of Abraham (Gen. 12: 4); but the 400 years date
from the casting out of Ishmael and the weaning of Isaac. The 30 years difference in
these two datings is made up as follows:
Age of Abraham at the call of Gen. 12: 4.
75
***
***
From call to marriage of Hagar (Gen. 16: 3).
10
From marriage to birth of Ishmael (Gen. 16: 16).
1
From birth of Ishmael to birth of Isaac (Gen. 21: 5).
14
-------
25
Add five years to the casting out of Ishmael and the weaning of Isaac.
5
-------
30
For a complete and detailed chronology of this whole period, the reader is referred to
the series of articles entitled "Time and Place" in the Berean Expositor, Vol. 36:
The proof is not necessary here. It is sufficient for the purpose of the Apostle's argument
that the promise made to Abraham was given a long time prior to the giving of the law, to
show that the subsequent introduction of the law at Mount Sinai "doth not invalidate so
as to render the promise inefficacious".
"For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise; but God gave it to
Abraham by promise" (Gal. 3: 18).
Very similar in form is the argument of Rom. 11::
"If by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it
be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" (Rom. 11: 6).
The abrupt "but God gave it to Abraham by promise" silencing all objection, is similar
to "but not before God" of Rom. 4: 2. While "the inheritance" promised to Abraham
may include many and diverse blessings, one only is here in view. The one with which
the argument opened "received ye the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of
faith?" and this question is never lost sight of in the development that follows. A
question now arises, a question that forces itself once more into Rom. 6: and 7:,
namely, these things being so, "wherefore then serveth the law?" The answer given by
Paul has been given many explanations; indeed, on verse twenty Lightfoot says "the
number of interpretations of this passage is said to mount up to 250 or 300. Many of
these arise out of an error as to the mediator, many disregard the context, and not a few
are quite arbitrary".
It will be obvious to all that the actual person intended by the Mediator of verse
twenty, will be decided by the meaning given to the words of verse nineteen "it was
added because of transgressions". Looking at the law as a whole we can say that:
(1)
The law instead of bringing life and righteousness actually became "a ministry of
condemnation".
(2)
Its pressure stirred up rebellion and revealed and multiplied transgressions.