David Bahn – Reflections

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. ²³ But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
    break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
    than those of the one who has a husband.”

²⁸ Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” ³¹ So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

I described, yesterday, some of the realities of life in Cuba as I saw it. I made some comments about the impact of socialism on the lives of the people there. I believe they were fair and accurate. But that’s not to say life there is unbearable. As I was just recently reminded, we learned that we could survive in less than ideal circumstances through our experiences there. Electricity is really nice, but not a true necessity. Internet connectivity makes possible these blog posts. And bumpy roads are at least roads. We managed quite nicely through it all.

More than that we enjoyed some really nice experiences. The people we met. The music we heard. The food we ate – albeit we did get tired of beans and rice at every dinner, they were delicious. And the vistas! Mountains, valleys, forests, flowers, birds, sunsets, the (few) churches, and ocean waters. Those you can see here.

Paul’s recounting of Hagar and Sarah, their freedom, slavery, and ultimate blessings reminds me of the blessings of freedom we enjoy – and so often take for granted. Last Sunday we got up and went to church. Gathering with fellow believers we enjoyed the “mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren” (cf. Smalcald Articles X) was such a blessing. Martin Luther considered that almost the third sacrament. And I never worry about getting into trouble for expressing my Christian faith or praying.

Freedom is a gift of God which has far-reaching blessings. We tend to think of those blessings on the basis of our personal benefit. That is true. But Hagar – though the slave woman – was protected by God. People in Cuba enjoy the same universal blessings of God’s daily provision, the benefits of natural law, and rain and sun. The difference, however, is more than our personal benefit. The difference is the potential for us to extend God’s goodness and grace to others. We’re free not only to worship Jesus, but to spread the message of his love.

The sons of the free woman shall be more than the sons of the slave. We must recognize the freedoms we have are not only for our personal benefit, but for the spread of the word. Our fellowship is not only for our personal encouragement and refreshment, but for strength to honor Christ in all we do. We live and move and have our being. Not only so we can draw breath, but so that we can share the breath of life and peace with others that comes through Jesus.

May he draw others to himself through our freedom-founded witness!

If you wish to see some of my photos from this trip, you may see them in my smugmug gallery.