In Galatians 3, Paul argues that long before the Law was given, God planned to bless Israel and the nations through faith in the coming Messiah. He then goes on to explain that those who rely on the works of the Law are under a curse (Gal. 3:10–13). This leaves us with the following quandary: if the Law (which results in a curse) came 430 years after a promise of blessing (Gal. 3:17–18), why in the world did God give the Law? Paul anticipates this question when he asks,