Paul’s use of the promise to Abraham in order to explain the power of faith in connection to our righteousness gives us the opportunity to savour this wonderful story of him and Sarah.
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.” 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. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4 v 18-23)
But this great covenant of our faith given to the father of many nations all happened in a vision and a dream.
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision (Genesis 15 v 1)
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep (Genesis 15 v 12)
Abram had a vision, he was awake, very much conscious but having an encounter with God that no one else was seeing or hearing. Then he had a deep sleep and dreamt something that was still counted as real.
Here is the point: Abraham’s faith was found in the unseen reality of the world around him. He was taken into ‘another’. Paul would call this the ‘heavenly realms’ in Ephesians. Abraham teaches us to trust despite no evidence.
Keep believing even if the reality if not what the promise we have been given. That’s it.
Missions Paul 