Paul continues to describe the faith that Abraham had in God and His promise.
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."
We see here two types of hope...one displayed spiritually, through faith in God. This is the "hope" of eternal life. The other hope being earthly logic, what makes sense to us. Abraham believed God's promise that he would be a father of many nations with a spiritual hope, firmly rooted in true faith. This spiritual hope went against earthly logic, as he was very old at this time.
I think it's amazing how God works. Time and time again, in order to display Himself, His plan completely destroys our earthly understanding, leaving no room for logical explanations...I believe this is one way He "guards us" with faith, by creating situations that can only be explained by faith in Him.
God is most glorified when we are able to let go of our "logical" explanations and trust Him!
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 1 Corinthians 1:27
God makes it impossible for the world to explain Him or His ways through worldly wisdom. The gospel is so free it is confusing, it is offered to people that despise Him, and the price was so high it cost Him His Son...the world cannot explain or understand any of this - it is considered foolishness among the "wise" of the world because it makes no earthly, logical sense.
This creates the absolute need to be like Abraham, to have spiritual hope, driven and solidified by the gift of true faith, that is powerful and able to destroy earthly logic and it's attempts to discredit the promises of our Almighty, All-powerful, eternal God!
If something in the Bible doesn't make sense to us, it's crucial that we take a step back and make absolutely sure that we are not attempting to explain something spiritual and eternal through the lens of our earthly, mortal understanding.
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 old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.
Even though Abraham was aware that both he and Sarah were not considered capable of bearing children, he knew the promise of God that he would be the father of a great nation surpassed all earthly boundaries...to the point that it did not weaken his faith.
How quick are we to doubt God's promise that He will provide for our every need, the moment things seem to take a turn away from what we "think" is right?
Thankfully, God loves us unconditionally...not based on whether or not we display the faith of Abraham at all times. Yet, we must learn from the "father of our faith," we ought to pursue the unwavering faith that he displayed in the same God that we serve today. Our God has not changed, nor has His faithfulness to His promises.
How do we pursue this faith? Pursue God! The more we know Him, the more we fall in love with Him, the closer we draw to Him - the closer He will draw to us! God doesn't base His love for us on anything we do, but how we live greatly influences the strength of our relationship with Him.
We need to be constantly asking God to reveal any areas of our life that are affecting our relationship with Him negatively...and then praying for strength to deal with these areas...in pursuit of a faith like Abraham's!
Sin that is not dealt with, complacency, refusing to forgive, allowing the busyness of this life to take precedence over time with our Father...all of these things greatly hinder our relationship with Him. As a result, our faith will be weak, we will be quick to doubt His promises, and we will not know the blessings that accompany the faith that creates a peace surpassing all understanding!
Pray that our Father would continue to strengthen the faith of all of His children...so that when trials and persecution come our way (as is sure to happen), we stand bold and strong...knowing that even though it may not seem logical from the world's perspective, we serve a God that holds the entire universe together by His power!
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