在雅芳的父母不幸因車禍喪生之後，雅芳繼承了一大筆的房地產投資組合。同時她還得知，原來她父母已經將這筆資產交付信託公司。目前她只能動用足夠支付大學學費的金額，而其餘的部分要等她年齡稍長一些才能動用。雅芳原本頗感失望，但後來她瞭解到父母的明智之處，他們的謹慎規劃讓她能在適當的時候一步步地繼承這筆龐大的遺產。

在加拉太書4章，保羅說明以色列人繼承上帝與亞伯拉罕所立的約，也是類似的情況。上帝與亞伯拉罕立約是要賜福給他，而割禮就是立約的記號（參見創世記17章1-14節），但這記號並非應許。亞伯拉罕的子孫要等候將來一個後裔來實現這應許。以撒的出生預示未來會有一位聖子降生，贖回上帝的子民（加拉太書4章4-5節）。

以色列人像雅芳一樣，必須要等到「他父親預定的時候」（2節），才能承受全部的產業。他們想要立刻擁有的一切，等到上帝預定的時候，也就是耶穌受死、被埋葬、復活之時就能得到。此後所有相信基督的人不再是罪的奴僕，而是上帝的兒女（7節）。上帝另立了新約，使我們得以來到祂面前，能稱祂為「阿爸，父！」（6節）

When Abigail’s parents died tragically in a car accident, she inherited a large real estate portfolio. She also learned that her parents had arranged to place the portfolio in a trust. For the time being, she could access only enough money for her college tuition. The rest would come when she was older. Abigail was frustrated, but she later realized her parents’ wisdom in planning a measured delivery of the inheritance.

In Galatians 4, Paul uses a similar example to illustrate Israel’s situation as promised heirs of God’s covenant with Abraham. God had made a covenant with Abraham to bless him, and circumcision was a sign of that promise (see Genesis 17:1-14). However, the sign wasn’t the promise. Abraham’s descendants would await a future descendant who would fulfill it. Isaac was born and pointed to the future birth of a Son who would redeem God’s people (Galatians 4:4-5).

Israel, like Abigail, had to wait until the “time set by his father” (v. 2). Only then could Israel take full possession of the inheritance. What they wanted immediately would arrive in due time with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. All who put their faith in Christ were no longer slaves to sin, “but God’s child” (v. 7). A new covenant has been established. We have access to God! We can call him “Abba, Father” (v. 6).