“In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations” Romans 4:18
Paul wrote these words to describe Abraham’s faith based on God’s promise found in Genesis 17:4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.” How could Abraham (originally called Abram), 99 years old at the time, and who with Sarah his wife (originally called Sarai), 90 years old and barren all her life, could possibly conceive a child and become the father and mother of nations (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—which trace their spiritual lineage back to Abraham)?
It is for this seeming impossibility that Paul writes, “in hope he believed against hope” which we may interpret as he hoped in faith when human reason was gone.
This passage is often cited as the foundation of our hope when all seems hopeless—to hope in God’s promises regardless of our circumstances, feelings, and wavering emotions.
How does God’s promise resonate today when so much seems hopeless, beyond any imaginable solution? How does the story of Abraham’s faith, occurring 4,000 years ago, have relevance today? Where are we to find the signs of hope today?
We may find the signs of hope in the way lives are changed. Lives that were lost are found, destroyed and recovered. The weak discover strength to endure. Pain is transformed into character. The most insignificant do mighty things. Hope is never extinguished.
We may confidently hope against hope because God’s promises are true: He is with us always, His love endures forever, and His mercies are without end. Let us end with this thought:
“Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
