Human Hope and Divine Hope

Abraham continues to take’s center stage in Romans chapter 4.  Here are verses 18-22:  “18 who (Abraham),contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”   This paragraph references Abraham’s willingness to believe God’s promise about a son even though Abraham was almost 100 years old. What caught my eye is the phrase, “contrary to hope, in hope believed”.  Human hope was empty.  There was no humanly possible way for Abraham or Sarah (who was 90 years old) to have a biological child.  It made more sense for them to plan a Geritol party than a gender reveal party.   Yet Abraham still believed in the hope he had been given by God.  If I could inject two words into the phrase I think it becomes clearer, “contrary to (human) hope, in (divine) hope believed”.  Abraham believed what God told him and that was accounted to him for righteousness.  How about you?  Do you believe what God has promised you?   Do you believe despite human hope looking a different way?  Now, it has to be something that God has promised you; not simply something you desire.  Desiring something intensely doesn’t obligate God to do it.  However, if it is divine hope, then like Abraham, we can believe it. Though it may take many years, we too wil experience the fulfillment of God’s promises.

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