The things that may be taken figuratively are God’s dealings with Hagar and Sarah, as well as Ishmael and Isaac. One group (Hagar and Ishmael) represents a reliance on self, while the other group (Sarah and Isaac) represents a reliance on God.1 The two women and their two sons represent two different ways of relating to God,2 a contrast between works and faith.3
24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.