I woke up this morning to the words “hope against hope”.
I had gone to bed praying, talking to God about my current health and financial situation, asking for wisdom and peace as I wait for His promise, and asking Him to show me if there was anything I haven’t done that I should be doing.
Emotionally I was in a panic. Spiritually I was at peace.
As often happens when I try to figure things God is doing out with my own logic and reason, I tossed and turned, all the different possibilities and scenarios playing out in my mind. At one point I woke up and the words “Abraham hoped against hope…” arose in my spirit. I briefly said, “I can do that.” and fell back asleep, still restless but not as restless.
Sitting down for my morning time with God the verse came again.
For those who don’t know the story, Abraham was nearly 100 years old and his wife, Sarah, was nearly 90 years old. Neither of them was physically capable of making or having a baby. They were well past that age. But God promised that Abraham would have a baby with his wife and that he would be the father of many nations.
This is what Paul says about this in Romans 4
Romans 4:17-21 AMP 17 (as it is written [in Scripture], “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope Abraham believed that he would become a father of many nations, as he had been promised [by God]: “So [numberless] shall your descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body, now as good as dead [for producing children] since he was about a hundred years old, and [he considered] the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised
Abraham believed God. He did not ignore or close his eyes to natural reality but what he saw did not weaken his faith or cause him to doubt or waver. He could both look at the circumstances and acknowledge that without God the promise could not be fulfilled while growing increasingly confident that God had the power to do what He had promised.
This is what it means in verse 18 when it says “in hope against hope” – it means, in the natural apart from God this thing God promised was impossible. Nothing Abraham could do could make this promise come to pass. It was hopeless. BUT because it was God who promised, and Abraham knew Him well enough to know that He was faithful to His promises and had the ability, faithfulness, and power to bring His promise to pass. Therefore, Abraham hoped in God in the midst of a seemingly hopeless situation. He centered his attention on the one who “gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist”.
I used to think that was foreshadowing Abraham’s faith when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, today I realize that this is talking about giving life to the dead womb and calling into being the seed in both Sarah and Abraham required for them to have a child.
Maybe what you need doesn’t exist right now. Maybe what God has promised looks impossible if you only consider your situation (I know mine does).
But today I want to encourage you to hope against hope and remember that God is faithful who promised, and He will bring it to pass. If He has promised, He will not fail to fulfill His Word to you. He is willing. He is able. He is faithful. And He is more than capable to create what you need if it hasn’t been invented yet.
And, if you’re in a situation and you have yet to go to God to ask Him what His promise is for you in the midst of it, ask Him today. He won’t rebuke you or laugh at you. He won’t turn you away. The blood of Jesus made a new and living way into His presence so that we could come to Him with boldness and confidence in times of need, seeking wisdom and direction, in faith that He will give us wisdom liberally and willingly.
Take God at His Word, just like Abraham did. Let that Word, that promise, change your perspective until you are looking unto God, the author and finisher of your faith with more confidence than you are putting in your situation.
Obey any direction He gives you, without misgivings.
And let’s watch those hopeless situations give way to the power, promise, and presence of the One who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
