“The Heir, as Long as He is a Child, Differeth Nothing From a Servant”

(Pro 30:19-23)

[Study Aired June 18, 2026]

Pro 30:19  The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
Pro 30:20  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
Pro 30:21  For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
Pro 30:22  For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
Pro 30:23  For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

Last week we talked about the horseleach who has two daughters who represent Aholah and Aholibah. Here again is the quote from one of Ato’s studies with the book of Ezekiel that we quoted last week (iswasandwillbe.com/ezekiel-2326-49-aholah-and-aholibah-part-2/), repeated here in order to help us consider the first few verses we’ll look at tonight, in (Pro 30:19-23), which represent our time in Babylon after Christ’s first coming.

“In order to understand the study for today, we have to go back to the earlier verses to understand the context. There were two sisters – Aholah and Aholibah. Aholah was the elder, and she played the harlot with Assyrians who invaded the ten tribes of Israel. As we indicated in the previous study, the two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, represent the church of the Lord in different dispensations. Aholah represents the church when it was under the law of Moses, and Aholibah signifies the church after the coming of Christ. That is to say that Aholah represents our walk when we did not know Christ and walked in the churches of this world (Aholah) according to the law of Moses. Aholibah signifies our walk when we were still in the churches of this world when Christ started coming to us. The Assyrians represent the false apostles who come in the name of the Lord but are wolves in sheep’s clothing.” [end of quote]

In this section of proverbs we’re looking at, we see them being spoken of as “two daughters, crying, Give, give” of (Pro 30:15). (Pro 30:19-23) represents the second dispensation when we are Aholibah in the church systems of this world after the first coming of Christ.

Pro 30:19  The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

The question or subject at hand is what we did when we were still in the church systems of this world when Christ started coming to us, to drag us out of her my people (Joh 6:44 , Hos 11:1 ,  1Jn 4:17 , 2Co 6:17). Remember we were just told in verse eighteen that “There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:”(Pro 30:18). This statement is a declaration of our complete immaturity (3+4=7) at this stage in our walk. And now in verse nineteen, the eagle (1), the serpent (2), the ship (3) and the maid (4), all together symbolize the whole (4) status of our yet carnal minds represented by beasts that have not yet been brought properly into subjection unto “a man” who represents Christ the bridegroom of that maid (2Co 11:2 , Joe 2:16).

The “way of a man with a maid” in other words, although a mystery and hidden from the world, is clear to us as we are hidden in Christ (Col 3:3). It is a mystery that is being revealed to the body of Christ through Judgement (1Pe 4:17 , 1Jn 4:17) that is upon the bride so that she can grow unto maturity in this life (1Co 15:51-52 , Eph 5:31-33).

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

“The way of an eagle in the air” represents the elect who are typified by those eagle’s wings that symbolize the strength that God is going to give us to come out of her my people, a coming out that is typified by the exodus of Israel, only now speaking of the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16) whose exodus is from sin (Exo 19:4 , Isa 40:31 , 2Co 6:17).

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

In this instance “the way of a serpent upon a rock” represents the yet immature Seraphim who will mature into the Seraphim spoken of in  (Isa 6:2-6). It is when we are raised in heavenly places in Christ (Eph 2:6 , Eph 1:20) as Christ was raised (Joh 3:14 , 1Jn 4:17) that we can then begin to become that mature serpent upon a rock, which “rock” is Christ. God’s word tells us we have to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour (2Pe 3:18) in order to become that mature servant upon the rock, which growth happens in the church (Col 1:24), the body of Christ, by God who gives that increase through Christ, via every joint that supplies in love  (Mat 16:18 , 1Co 3:6 , Eph 4:16).

Isa 6:2  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Isa 6:3  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isa 6:4  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isa 6:5  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Isa 6:6  Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Christ’s maturing bride is also described as “the way of a ship in the midst of the sea”. Noah represents Christ and His body, who moved with fear, as God’s elect are moving (Rom 8:14-16) to the building up of the body of Christ in love by each joint that supplies in love (Eph 4:16).

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The church is typified by “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” of Noah’s ark (Eph 3:18) that was built to the saving “of his house” which house we know can only be built by Christ (Psa 127:1).

Eph 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

That house typifies the few elect, typified by eight souls  [symbol of the new man] in Noah’s day who are on that ark that symbolizes the body of Christ or the firsts fruits of God, His little remnant and flock (Heb 5:7 , Heb 11:7 , Luk 17:28 , Luk 18:7-8). The wisdom needed to build this ark comes from Christ alone (1Co 1:30) who has the words of eternal life that we are told if we are blessed to continue in will set us free (Joh 8:31-36 , Php 2:12-13).

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him(Heb 5:7 , 1Jn 4:17) , though he bear long with them?(Luk 21:19)
Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily(Psa 46:1). Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Pro 30:20  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

Everything we’ve been discussing is “the way of an adulterous woman”. In other words when we are yet carnal Christians we are shifting around a lot on that rock like a serpent would (Gen 49:4 , Jas 1:8 , 2Pe 2:14 , 2Pe 3:16) and we get buffeted by every wind of doctrine like an eagle in the air (Eph 4:14). Our way with Christ is found wanting, and because He loves the bride, the maid, God’s elect are chastened and scourged in this age (Heb 12:6 , Tit 2:11-12) which, if we’re given the power to endure such suffering, will prepare us to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Act 14:22 ,  Heb 12:7 , 2Ti 2:12 , Rev 20:6)

Gen 49:4  Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Our initial relationship with Christ is shallow and does not have any great depth, although we may think differently of ourselves. That is why these words are spoken of the adulterous woman who represents God’s elect who are yet in bondage to sin, “the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness”. If we are granted to continue in the truth and speak the truth in love, it will be by God’s grace and the faith of Christ that this is accomplished (Eph 4:14 , Eph 2:8).

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Pro 30:21  For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

Again we see another proverb that aligns these numbers, “three”  and “four”, together. ‘Three’ represents judgement, and so when the earth is being judged, “the earth is disquieted” because it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord (Heb 10:31 , Heb 5:7).

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

The earth is the church that is being judged through a process that is effective upon us only if we are of the remnant who are “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev 1:3 , Jer 22:29 , Isa 66:2).

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Disquieted  H7264 râgaz raw-gaz’
A primitive root; to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear): – be afraid, stand in awe, disquiet, fall out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage, shake, tremble, trouble, be wroth.
Total KJV occurrences: 41

At first we cannot bear what God requires of us because we are yet carnal and think that it depends on our strength and not God’s. The strength of the rich young ruler of (Mat 19:20-21) was in his riches which represents his self-righteous spirit that uttered words that confirmed that his confidence was in what he had done throughout his life (Mat 19:20-21). What was required of him was not possible without his being dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44).

It is when we come to the point where we know that unless the Lord opens the seals, the trumpets and the vials in our lives to judge us (Rev 8:6), we will remain hopeless and helpless against the beastly flesh were in (Rev 13:4).

God’s judgement [3] disquiets our earth, “For three things the earth is disquieted”, upon the whole of our life [4] that could not bear that judgement without the faith of Christ, and so the complete man [3+4=7] is going to be formed through the judgement that can and will be endured by the faith of Christ that is upon the whole body of Christ (Luk 22:32).

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Pro 30:22  For a servant^H5650 when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

The immature carnal Corinthian is each one of us in our appointed time, who is liken unto “a servant when he reigneth” (Gal 4:1-5), or a fool who has the meat of the word but is yet a babe and not able to rightly divide that meat of the word (Heb 5:13-14). Again we’re talking about the bride of Christ, and these are the stages that God brings all of His children through, via Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith.

servant   H5650   ‛ebed  eh’-bed
From H5647; a servant: –  X bondage, bondman, [bond-] servant, (man-) servant.
Total KJV occurrences: 800

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Pro 30:23  For an odious^H8130 woman when she is married; and an handmaid^H8198 that is heir to her mistress^H1404.

Pro 30:23  A hated woman when she is married; and a servant-girl who takes the place of her master’s wife. [BBE]

odious  H8130  śânê’   saw-nay’
A primitive root; to hate (personally): – enemy, foe, (be) hate (-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
Total KJV occurrences: 146

handmaid   H8198  shiphchâh  shif-khaw’
Feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family; see H4940); a female slave (as a member of the household): – (bond-, hand-) maid (-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant.
Total KJV occurrences: 63

 mistress  H1404  gebereth  gheb-eh’-reth
Feminine of H1376; mistress: – lady, mistress.
Total KJV occurrences: 9

This last proverb we will look at today is again speaking of our immature relationship with our husband that demonstrates our hatred toward God by the way we keep his words saying ‘Lord, Lord, but not doing the things that He commands us to do’, being yet slaves to sin (Luk 6:46 , Mat 7:21 , Rom 2:13).

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.(Php 2:12-13)

Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

God has plans for that odious woman who is hated, and it is Esau who is typified by her (Rom 9:13), and it is Jacob who represents our hope of glory Christ within, who God loves, and who is also within her.

This is all telling us that we can be yet carnal and betrothed to Christ as a woman who is hated as Esau was, or be as a handmaid which is the same as saying yet a child even though we are an heir to the throne (Gal 4:1-5). So it can be said that the mistress typifies Jacob, or the maturing bride who will be made ready by God’s mercy shown upon her in this age (Rev 19:7).

Rom 9:13  Even as it is said, I had love for Jacob, but for Esau I had hate.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad with delight, and let us give glory to him: because the time is come for the Lamb to be married, and his wife has made herself ready.

The last section of proverbs chapter thirty that we will look at next week, Lord willing, sets the stage for the last chapter of proverbs, and is very hope-filled as it describes the humility and power and strength that God has given to the maturing bride so that she can, by the grace and faith of Christ, go unto perfection on the third day through a process of judgement in this life (Luk 13:32).

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Pro 30:24  There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
Pro 30:25  The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
Pro 30:26  The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
Pro 30:27  The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
Pro 30:28  The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
Pro 30:29  There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
Pro 30:30  A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
Pro 30:31  A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
Pro 30:32  If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Pro 30:33  Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.