Hope in
Inexplicable Situations
The Promises of God
Series: How God Deepens Our Hope: Abraham and Son
Romans 4:18-22 cf. Gen.17:1-8; 22:1-19
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
“Hope Happens when our Faith Crosses God’s Purposes and Arrives at His Promises.”
The Promises of God Deepen because it is premised
1. A Concrete Covenant (Gen. 17:1-8) (cf. Heb. 6:13-18)
When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him again and said, “I am God All-Powerful. If you obey me and always do right, 2 I will keep my solemn promise to you and give you more descendants than can be counted.” 3 Abram bowed with his face to the ground, and God said:4-5 I promise that you will be the father of many nations. So now I'm changing your name from Abram to Abraham
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised Heb. 6:13-15
33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood
2. A Complicated Challenge (Gen. 22:1-10)
After these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36
3. A Conclusive Confirmation (Gen. 22:11-19 cf. Heb. 6:16ff
11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”13 Abraham looked up, and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. Hebrews 6:13-18
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor. 1:20
