"In hope he believed against hope..."?
What in the world does this mean? How do you do this?
This is a phrase out of Romans 4 speaking of Abraham. In the Old Testament we read that God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was not far behind him. Abraham and Sarah had long given up on having children, Sarah even laughed at the idea. Abraham said that their bodies were as good as dead. I think this is what it means when it says "in hope he believed against hope". All the odds were against them, if you looked at them and their circumstances there really was not any hope for them to have a child. So why did Abraham have hope why did he "believe against hope". For that you have to look at the surrounding verses in Romans 4.
"As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told "So shall your offspring be". He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years oldd), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness"" Romans 4:17-22 ESV
Why did Abraham hope? He hoped because of the God he believed. Not a god made by human hands, not some idol but GOD, I AM that I AM. The only God, who gives life to the dead, the Creator who made the earth and all that is in it from nothing. His belief, hope, faith was founded in the the only One who is capable of always making good on His promises. This, one true God told him and Abraham believed.
This passage goes on to say that Abraham looked at himself and Sarah and still did not waver in his faith, in fact, no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God! How many times have I looked at myself and my surroundings and given up. How about you? Do you think you are too old ,too young, too fat, too sick, too dumb,too weak, too whatever for God to do something in and through you? O that we would see the greatness of God instead of focusing on our own limitations or our own strengths. God chooses the weak, the things that seem impossible so that He shines. People don't need us to save them. They need to see and know the only One who can truly save them. Our faults, weaknesses, failures, sins are not bigger than God or His ability to use them in our lives and the lives of others.
How can we have this hope--this kind of faith? This passage says that Abraham grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. We need to do the same. Give thanks and praise to the Lord for what He has already done. He alone is worthy of glory. Let's praise Him. As we recount the faithfulness of God we will grow stronger in our faith, as we look and study and spend time with our Saviour we will become more and more fully convinced that He is able to do all that He has promised.
O Lord, help me to look at You, to seek You wholeheartedly. You who have the power to make something good out of nothing; to bring life from that which is "as good as dead", to bring the dead to life both physically and spiritually. O Lord, help me not to be weakened in faith by looking at myself and my own imperfections but that I would hope against hope because You are able. Help me to grow strong in my faith by giving You the glory that You deserve, being fully convinced that You are able to do all that You promise. In Jesus name, Amen
This is a phrase out of Romans 4 speaking of Abraham. In the Old Testament we read that God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was not far behind him. Abraham and Sarah had long given up on having children, Sarah even laughed at the idea. Abraham said that their bodies were as good as dead. I think this is what it means when it says "in hope he believed against hope". All the odds were against them, if you looked at them and their circumstances there really was not any hope for them to have a child. So why did Abraham have hope why did he "believe against hope". For that you have to look at the surrounding verses in Romans 4.
"As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told "So shall your offspring be". He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years oldd), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness"" Romans 4:17-22 ESV
Why did Abraham hope? He hoped because of the God he believed. Not a god made by human hands, not some idol but GOD, I AM that I AM. The only God, who gives life to the dead, the Creator who made the earth and all that is in it from nothing. His belief, hope, faith was founded in the the only One who is capable of always making good on His promises. This, one true God told him and Abraham believed.
This passage goes on to say that Abraham looked at himself and Sarah and still did not waver in his faith, in fact, no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God! How many times have I looked at myself and my surroundings and given up. How about you? Do you think you are too old ,too young, too fat, too sick, too dumb,too weak, too whatever for God to do something in and through you? O that we would see the greatness of God instead of focusing on our own limitations or our own strengths. God chooses the weak, the things that seem impossible so that He shines. People don't need us to save them. They need to see and know the only One who can truly save them. Our faults, weaknesses, failures, sins are not bigger than God or His ability to use them in our lives and the lives of others.
How can we have this hope--this kind of faith? This passage says that Abraham grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. We need to do the same. Give thanks and praise to the Lord for what He has already done. He alone is worthy of glory. Let's praise Him. As we recount the faithfulness of God we will grow stronger in our faith, as we look and study and spend time with our Saviour we will become more and more fully convinced that He is able to do all that He has promised.
O Lord, help me to look at You, to seek You wholeheartedly. You who have the power to make something good out of nothing; to bring life from that which is "as good as dead", to bring the dead to life both physically and spiritually. O Lord, help me not to be weakened in faith by looking at myself and my own imperfections but that I would hope against hope because You are able. Help me to grow strong in my faith by giving You the glory that You deserve, being fully convinced that You are able to do all that You promise. In Jesus name, Amen
So encouraging...thank you for writing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting! It is encouraging to know someone is reading!
ReplyDeleteWonderful!!!! How often do we stumble over hoping against hope??? Thank you for this!!!
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