Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, October 30, 2021
Shabbat Shalom,
Hope 22 – Hope Against Hope by David Harwood
Rabbi’s note: I wrote yesterday’s RR before I saw this submission from David Harwood. It is amazing to me how they go together. We must be listening to the same Holy Spirit. See if you agree. End RN.
Paul helped others to embrace Hope. The Emissary to non-Jewish nations wrote that as we persevere we are equipped to Hope through the Scriptures, and God’s direct impartation. These are two ways our hope-anticipation can be strengthened. They are like streams of enabling favor from which we are to drink.
We can pray for the Ruach’s effective influence, and we can purpose to positively approach and meditate on the Scriptures. We can choose to consider their content as a primary means to increase the vibrancy of our Hope-expectation. Why? Because according to Romans 15:4…
For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 TLV)
This holy expectation does not come through isolated, cherry-picked, proof-texts. For God’s children the whole sweep of Scripture tends in Hope’s direction! Through perseverance and the encouragement that proceeds from the whole counsel of God we get to be those who possess a godly expectation. Biblically inspired Hope is a holy anticipation that honors Father in a way that is worthy of His goodness. After all, He is good. Shouldn’t we expect good to come from Him?
Father is not the God of despair. He is not the God of discouragement. He is not the God of disappointment. He is the God who causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him. He is the God who raises the dead! He is the God of HOPE!
Paul enjoined the believers to submit their point of view to Biblical authority. He had a very high view of the Scriptures’ capacity to equip the believers. Paul wrote:
All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 TLV)
This Emissary applied lessons from foundational narratives to every disciple. For instance, Paul wrote that, just like Abraham, we are justified by our faith. The patriarch’s story, referencing God’s verdict on his life, is to be triumphantly received by all of us.
Now not only for his sake was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake as well. It is credited to us as those who trust in Him who raised Yeshua our Lord from the dead. (Romans 4:23-24 TLV)
Paul also endorsed the Scriptures’ record of Israel’s judgment as containing valuable warnings for us.
Now these things happened to them as an example, and it was written down as a warning to us—on whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:11 TLV)
In this passage Paul encouraged a typological method of interpretation. “Example” is the word tupikos from which we get the word “type”. “Instruction” refers to a form of teaching that emphasizes admonishment. A “type” can either encourage us or warn us. In 1 Corinthians 10:11 Paul was emphasizing “warning”. The Scriptures can be used to encourage us to continue going forward, or they can warn us to amend our ways lest we suffer the consequences of disobedience.
Yes, the Word can be usefully used to warn us. However, Romans 15:4 enjoins us to deliberately view God’s Word as a means to encourage our hearts to Hope. For our purpose the direction of these meditations will urge the reader to view the Scriptures as a Hope-Template. That does not mean that this is the entirety of the Bible’s message, but it is an important one, and one that is needed.
Hope is always immediately relevant to those who know they are beloved by God. It is the final verdict of all of Father’s activity. All creation is destined for godly expectation’s actualization. The cosmos enters into a new phase of existence at the time when Biblical Hope is finally realized. God wants that eschatological pattern to be demonstrated in our lives in the present age. He loves us and will reveal His goodness through us.
Right now, let’s concentrate on a story of someone who battled unbelief and received the results of an impossible promise through the diligent, deliberate, exercise of confident expectation. Let’s review what Paul wrote in Romans about Abraham.
In hope beyond hope, he trusted that he would become the father of many nations according to what was spoken—“So shall your descendants be.”
And without becoming weak in faith, he considered his own body—as good as dead, since he was already a hundred years old—and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Yet he did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God. Rather, he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God has promised, He also is able to do. That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:18-21 TLV)
Again, we find the symbiotic synergy of faith and Hope. Abraham’s Hope was challenged by his circumstances. His triumphantly maintained expectation is described as “hope against hope.”
One exercises “hope against hope” when Adonai has spoken of His purposes to reverse, restore, or transform a certain circumstance and it looks completely hopeless. However, because of God’s word, the recipient of the promise expects the circumstance to change despite every evidence to the contrary. God rules and God overrules.
Notice, Abraham had no power to bring the promise to pass. He had no earthly reason to Hope. Yet, he maintained his expectation.
Many of us find ourselves in these types of situations. We believe that we have a promise from God, but every circumstance is arrayed against its realization. This sacred narrative was pointed out by Paul as a paradigm of triumphant Hope.
Therein is an example of the Scriptures being the means of our Hope being strengthened. Please reread Romans 15:4.
For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 TLV)
When we consider this part of Abraham’s life we find reason to Hope. We are children of Abraham, and as He did with Abraham, God will fulfill His word. We also find a pattern of how to maintain a living Hope. The writer of Hebrews used the same illustration.
But we long for each of you to show the same eagerness for the certainty of hope to the very end— so you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those inheriting the promises through trust and perseverance.
Now when God made His promise to Abraham—since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you, and surely I will multiply you.”
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham reached the promise. (Hebrews 6:11–15 TLV)
Look at Abraham. He was not sluggish, wishy-washy, or focused upon the impossibilities.
Yet he did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God. Rather, he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God has promised, He also is able to do. That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:20-21 TLV)
We have been exhorted to imitate Abraham’s faith. His faith was the basis of his Hope. It was the reason for his confident expectation. He maintained hope-anticipation through actively waiting on the Lord.
Abraham was not lethargic, he was enthused. He did not invite doubt into his heart and entertain unbelief. His faith grew. I believe he waited on the LORD in worship and continually convinced himself of God’s power to perform His stated purpose. Here is the apostolic encouragement which can be applied to our lives in this age:
Let us hold fast the unwavering confession of hope, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23 TLV)
Let’s ask God for the help of the Ruach ha-Kodesh to make the Scriptures catch fire and burn in our hearts. After all, “whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through patience and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 TLV).” The glorious Father of our deliverer, Yeshua, will help.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and shalom in trusting, so you may overflow with hope in the power of the Ruach ha-Kodesh. (Romans 15:13 TLV)
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 23-Oct-2021 17th of Cheshvan, 5782 Parashat Vayera
Ge 22:1-24 2 Ki 4:1-37 Heb 11:8-19