Believed in Hope

Romans 4:17-20 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God 

‘I have made thee a father of many nations’ quoted from Genesis 17:4-5. This is a prophecy fulfilled before New Testament times.

‘Who quickened the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were’ Two things of God here: Resurrection (4:17; 8:11; John 5:21; 6:63; 1Cor. 15:22, 35, 45; 2Cor. 3:6; Gal. 3:21; 1Tim. 6:13; 1Pet. 3:18). Faith (4:17; 8:24-25; Mat. 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; Heb. 11:1). True faith is counting things that be not as though they were. This is what God exercised when He called the worlds into existence (Heb. 11:3; 2Pet. 3:5; Gen. 1:1; Job 38:4-7).

‘Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken’ here Paul describes the faith of Abraham in order to explain what gospel faith is like (Heb. 11:6; Jas. 1:5-8). ‘So shall thy seed be’ quoted from Genesis 15:5.

‘Hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb.’ Genesis 17:1 reveals God as the Fruitful-One who was to multiply Abraham abundantly; the Life-Giver who was to restore life to Abraham and Sarah who were as good as dead where offspring was concerned. Through Him, they would have future offspring as the dust (Gen. 13:16), stars (Gen. 15:5), and sand in number (Gen. 22:17). In Genesis 21:1 we see the Lord visited Sarah to renew her youth so that she could bear a child and nurse him (Gen. 21:1-2).

‘He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.’ Abraham lived in faith giving God glory in all he did (1Cor. 10:31) and never stumbled in his service to God.