Meditations Upon Faith - Romans 4:16-24 - Part Two

 

Meditations Upon Faith – Romans 4:16-24 - Part Two

 

The second example is an incomplete prayer of a sister in the Lord who fiercely desired to leave her current position. She felt burned out after decades of administrative paperwork and resolving interpersonal conflicts with staff, teachers, parents and students. The thought of writing another resolution plan made her want to vomit. She accordingly prayed to God for relief from stress, paperwork and supervision. As circumstances developed, a promotion to department chairperson opened. She applied but did not receive the position. A junior colleague with considerably less experience but who had just received her doctorate was promoted. My sister in the Lord was very disappointed in this outcome. After further reflection, she appreciated that she prayed primarily for removal of stress and job-related conflicts. God gave her exactly what she wanted. Would the outcome have been different if she had prayed specifically for the promotion? Specificity in prayer is important.

 

Paul opens this passage by reminding Roman disciples that eternal promises of God’s covenant with Israel extend to believers in Christ through faith. These promises unfold in the lives of people who genuinely believe Almighty God possesses the ability and will to fulfill His promises. This realization is an act of grace, God’s unmerited favor, to anyone who believes. The genealogies of Matthew and Luke prove that Christ is a descendant of Abraham, “the Father of Faith.” The manifestation of the promise extends to Christ and anyone who believes in Him. “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abrahm’s seed and heirs according to the promise. - Galatians 3:29.” It is significant to note that the inclusion of Gentiles was not new. God did not restrict it to adherents of the Law and descendants of Israel. Anyone who shared Abraham’s faith received the promise. Non-Israelites who discarded paganism and began to worship the God of Abraham as “the One, True God” were proselytes. Though they were not descendants of Israel, their adherence to the Law and worship of God through obedience made them eligible for the promise and its fulfillment. Paul reiterates that Abraham is the “father of us all” who believe. His faith in God as detailed in Genesis chapters twelve to twenty-three (12 to 23) earns him the eternal distinction as “the father of many nations.” The God who grants Abraham this honored place is the Holy One who “gives life to the dead and calls into being things that are not.” Therefore, anyone who seeks this promise must believe God possesses these attributes and will actualize His promises.

 

The eighteenth verse reflects one of the most challenging aspects of faith. “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed.” The first phrase alludes to scientific facts, biological challenges and physical impediments to God’s promise of a natural heir to Abraham. In the Genesis accounts, he questions the possibility of this promise considering his advanced age and that of his wife. Although the promise causes exuberant feelings, the facts are not in his favor, nor do they portend that this miracle is achievable even by Almighty God. It would require an especial dispensation of faith to persevere in believing that God can perform this promise. Nevertheless, Abraham persists in  hope that God will keep His word. Consider the irony of being steadfastly hopeful in an essentially and factually hopeless situation. Abraham’s hope and belief are in Almighty God. He is not standing on the verandah with his fingers crossed; silently praying that a miracle of miracles happens. His hope results from Abraham’s experiential and relational knowledge of God.

 

Abraham benefits considerably from God’s unquestioned faithfulness, limitless grace, enduring mercy and unfailing love. The Genesis chapters that record Abraham’s life also reveal these divine attributes. God initiates a covenant with Abraham and perfectly adheres to its provisions. God’s infinite, perfect and holy character compels His fulfillment of each promise regardless of how Abraham, Sarah and their offspring respond. Abraham acquires immeasurable wealth and prosperity wherever he lives. God’s trustworthy provision is foundational in Abraham’s life. Nonetheless, despite Abraham’s inestimable wealth and innumerable possessions, he feels utterly impoverished because he does not have a natural heir. He complains that a servant will inherit these bountiful blessings. Consequently, God expands their covenant and promises a natural heir to Abraham though it is naturally impossible. Abraham, the “Father of Faith” to all nations who believe, responds with unwavering faith that God will maintain their covenantal relationship. Though every scientific indicator and natural fact insist that hope and belief are mythical in Abraham’s circumstances, he overrides those realities by genuinely relying upon God.

 

One biblical scholar declares that hope is not an emotional reaction like a childhood wish for candy or immediate satisfaction. He characterizes hope as a calm and consistent reliance upon someone, or something known to be reliable. Though it takes time, a disciple hopes persistently because he knows he will receive his heartfelt desires. Abraham puts his hope and belief in Almighty God based upon his knowledge, reason and experience of God. Therefore, Abraham’s hope is not futile. God’s faithfulness over the years of Abraham’s long life persuades Abraham to believe that God possesses power and grace to actualize this incredible promise. The word, belief, translates from Greek to the English word, persuade. God’s unwavering provision and adherence to the covenant convinces Abraham that He will accomplish this promise.

 

Accordingly, Abraham does not weaken in his faith. He employs all his mental faculties (creativity, intellect and logic) to conceive of ways in which God will adhere to His promise. Interestingly, Abraham does not ignore the hard facts of his predicament. He straightforwardly acknowledges that he is nearly one hundred years old. His wife, Sarah, is also advanced in age. Nevertheless, Abraham perseveres in his faith in God’s integrity in adhering to His covenant through this necessary miracle. Paul beautifully describes Abraham’s stance as one who “does not weaken in his faith.” The Greek language communicates words pictures to relay Paul’s meaning to his audience. Abraham maintains a rock of Gibraltar  type faith. Envision also the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Over millions of years, the forces of nature (rain, sleet, snow and other natural disasters) have not diminished these rock formations. They have strengthened them as any erosion reinforced the formations and enhanced their beauty and preservation. Likewise, Abraham’s faith in Almighty God remains rock solid and mountainous as he remains silent and reaffirms his belief that God can and will fulfill His promise.

 

I imagine that Abraham consistently utilizes spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation, reflection, silence and recitation of God’s word. Abraham did not have a printed Bible. He lived centuries before the Hebrew Bible was recorded on papyrus manuscripts. However, he rehearses the word of God as he repeatedly recalls the spoken promises of God. He establishes a covenant with Abraham based on His holy name and character. God being intrinsically all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present and all-kind cannot violate any oath He makes. Presumably, Abraham reflects upon many previous instances in which God accomplishes His word. Conceivably, he envisions whether Issac’s facial features will favor Sarah, him or another relative. Abraham probably laughs at the possibility that his wife of advanced age will wear maternity clothing. Interestingly, the author of Deuteronomy considers reflection to be a type of prayer. He exhorts the Israelites to recall God’s mighty deeds on their behalf as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Their recollections will prevent them from abandoning God or turning to idols and strange gods. Perhaps in extended periods of silence, Abraham reaffirms his hope, faith and trust in Almighty God’s ability to maintain His covenant by granting Abraham’s greatest desire.