Romans 4:19-22 KJV – “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 Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”
One of the amazing elements of this great story of faith is the marvelous way in which faith is defined. We are told that Abraham did not waver in faith, yet we know he “heeded the voice of his wife” (Gen. 16:2) and engaged in sexual relations with Hagar in hopes of producing a child. Interestingly, the same phrase, “heeded the voice of his wife,” is also used to describe Adam’s sin of partaking of the forbidden fruit.
So what does this have to do with defining faith? First of all, it tells us that faith is not just real when we are perfect. Faith is active in the lives of people who fail, people like you and me. The second element of faith revealed here, I believe, is a little more convicting—at least it is to me—and that is Abraham, though he made a dumb mistake, not only believed God could give him a son, but he also believed that God would give him a son.
Faith is believing, not just what God can do, but believing that He will do what He said He would do. This is why faith and the Word of God are inseparable. People today often try to put their faith in things God did not say in hopes of bringing them about. But as 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
Abraham had a direct promise from God, and when God makes a promise, it is as good as done. I have often said we need to remember that God’s promises are true when they’re said, not when they’re seen.
Was God’s promise validated the day Isaac was born? Not at all—God’s promise was validated the moment He spoke it because it is not possible that God should lie (Titus 1:2). What this means to you and me is that we are free to live according to all God’s promises, for in Jesus they are all yes and amen. Faith is not only believing God can, but it is also believing God will be faithful to His Word.
So if God tells a hundred-year-old man and a ninety-year-old woman they are going to have a child, that means it’s time to start decorating the nursery! To all of us, it means we are free to live as though the promises of God’s Word are as sure as the God who spoke them. So go out today and stand on the promises of God’s Word—every one of them—for they were made to you and to me!
