El Olam- How To Live Above Your Problems Series

The Judaizers were teaching the believers in Galatia to trade their freedom in Christ for the bondage of the Law. It was a gospel of works. The Jews were prideful because of their physical descent from Abraham and in many cases believed the blessings God promised to Abraham were theirs exclusively. Paul explains that Ishmael represents the Old Covenant, the Law. Also, this passage says Ishmael represents those who are a part of Abraham’s family through physical birth, for his birth was entirely by natural means. On the other hand, Isaac was the child of promise. His birth was by means of a miracle. It is not natural birth that makes us a part of God’s covenant people; it is a miraculous birth.

Christians are the children of Abraham through spiritual birth. Ishmael was replaced by the son of promise, Isaac. Ishmael represents the age of the Law and Isaac represents the age of grace. This was all part of the plan of El Olam, the Eternal God. Abraham could not understand it, he just had to trust the future to God.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

The name El Olam tells us…

3. That God can be trusted with all of your days.

When Isaiah wrote these words, the Israelites were in a terrible place. The Assyrians had already captured many bordering nations, as well as Israel and much of Judah. Isaiah preached during this time of military threat to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He warned Judah’s king about making alliances with pagan kings rather than trusting in the Lord.

When you or your possessions are in danger, whom do you trust? Are you tempted to make shady deals or compromise your honesty? When you are discouraged with the drain of life, do you turn to sinful pleasures? When your faith begins to fail with age, in whom do you trust? The secret for supernatural strength when our strength seems to be failing is to trust in the everlasting God, El Olam. If you know God as El Olam, you can wait on Him or trust Him with tomorrow. When you know Him as El Olam, it will renew your strength and as it does, you shall mount up with wings and soar like eagles.

Conclusion:

This means that through prayer you can turn the future over to Him and then you can soar above your difficulties. Soaring in the peace that passes all understanding is all a matter of knowing God. Only when you, like Abraham, get to know the LORD as El Olam, the Eternal God, can you renew your strength and soar like an eagle above your problems.