March 1, 2026 Text: Genesis 12:1-9
Dear Friends in Christ,
During the Napoleonic wars, British general Arthur Wellesley, often found himself using the British troops he commanded to reduce Spanish towns and villages held by French troops. Once the artillery had broken through, the real dirty work began. The first troops through the breach were called the “forlorn hope.” Their chances of making it to tomorrow were extremely low. They advanced through the breach knowing that they likely were going to be killed.
There is a difference between this “forlorn hope,” which is a hopeless hope really, and the hope against hope. In our story of Abraham in our text this morning, God shows us hope in the story. We get to see Abraham’s faith. Against hope, he believed a promise.
“HOPE AGAINST HOPE”
God made some wonderful promises to Abraham. He was going to make him a great nation. He will be a blessing and his name will shine. All the families of the earth are going to be blessed by this servant of God. God will take care of those who curse him. He is giving him a great land, but he has no idea where it is. He only has the promise. The only thing God does promise Abraham in this new land? God tells him in Genesis 23 he will have a burial plot. The best Abraham could do was burial insurance. Isn’t that great?
Imagine trying this scenario with your family. You gather everyone and announce, “we are moving.” “Where are we going?” “Well, I’m not sure.” “Where will our home be?” “Again, not really positive.” “What might our house look like?” “We don’t have one. But we do have burial insurance.” The only thing he could assure Sarai of was this, “we do have a wonderful real estate agent!” Isn’t it a wonder that Abram lived past that conversation?
God said “go” and he went. God didn’t expect him to believe because of sight, feeling, deeds, burial plot, or any other earthly prop. God had spoken his promises. That was good enough for God, and therefore it was good enough for Abram. The theology of the cross is the theology of the Word. He speaks. We believe.
Human reason does not support this faith and confidence. It sees sin and weakness. We see broken marriages, children born out of wedlock, and all manner of rebellion against God’s order. We see a weak and suffering ministry. We see people living the good life behind high walls. Surely, God must be blessing them? Why would we think we have God’s blessing? We don’t have power or the deed to it. That is why we must trust God. All he gave to Abraham was a word. How could Abraham become the father of many nations, when he couldn’t even be the father of one son? Because he believed. He didn’t give Abraham riches or the deed to a promised property, not even hope. So, he against hope believed and had hope.
Much that we believe must be believed against hope. Why should God dwell here in our humble church? Why should our Pastor have the authority to forgive sins or give the Supper of the Lord into our mouths? Do we have a man giving him permission? His authority is not from man, but from God. “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Rom. 4:3). The voice of God’s promise assures that we are blessed and a blessing to the nations, through the Seed given to Abraham, even Jesus Christ, our Lord.
What hope against hope do we have? The apostle Paul says that are transgressions are handed over to Christ Jesus. When we sin, it hurts God. But he listens to our problems and our hurts, our sorrows and sins. He listens as a loving Father. But He takes on our sin not because He must for his own sake, but for ours. Isaiah says, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Is. 53:5). These are the blessings God promised to Abraham, a promise given to all the families of the earth . . . and given, therefore, to you.
Lent is time of hope in the midst of hopelessness. Our heavenly Father sent his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as possessing nothing and yet blessing all nations by giving himself to death for them. He came not to possess the land but to give himself to those who are journeying with him to the cross. With the promised blessings, we are still going on toward our final home. Even though we have no deed for it, we have no hope in it, because God has promised, just as he did to Abraham. Our hope is Abraham’s hope.
Amen.