Abraham’s Family and God the Mother
The Bible meticulously documents Abraham’s family history, with Jesus’ parable identifying Abraham as representing God the Father (Lk 16:19–24) and his children as God’s children (Gal 3:7).
“The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.”
Galatians 3:7 emphasizes that those who put their faith in God are the true children of Abraham, linking Abraham’s family to God’s family. From this family history, we learn the criteria for inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven.
Abraham had three potential heirs: Eliezer, Ishmael and Isaac. Despite initially considering Eliezer, the family servant, God insisted that Abraham’s heir be of his “own flesh and blood” (Ge 15:2–4).
“Then the Lord said to him, ‘No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir .’”
Because Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was advanced in age, Abraham had a son with his maidservant Hagar (Ge 16:15–16). Abraham had his firstborn Ishmael. However, God also declined Ishmael as Abraham’s heir.
“Then Abraham said to God, ‘Please let Ishmael be the son you promised.’ God said, ‘No, Sarah your wife will have a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will make my agreement with him to be an agreement [covenant] that continues forever will all his descendants.’”
God ultimately chose Isaac as Abraham’s heir (Ge 17:18–19), highlighting the difference between Ishmael and Isaac—their mothers. Ishmael’s mother was a maidservant, while Isaac’s mother, Sarah, was a free woman.
“But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother.”
Galatians 4:26 (NLT)
Apostle Paul testified that Sarah embodies the Heavenly Jerusalem—our Mother. In Galatians, he links believers who believe in God the Mother to children of promise, akin to Isaac, destined to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven (Gal 4:28).
