18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 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 Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:18-21 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here St. Paul further expatiates in the commendation of Abraham’s faith, telling us, That against hope he believed in hope; that is he had a strong hope, a firm faith and trust in the promise and power of God, against all natural grounds of hope; namely, that he should certainly have a son, and a seed like the stars of heaven for multitude.
He further adds, That he considered not the deadness of his own body nor the barrenness of Sarah’s womb: neither staggered at the promise through unbelief: That is, he regarded not any difficulties which lay in the way of his faith, he admitted no doubts or questions touching the promise or power of God, but without all disputing depended fully upon God for the performance of his own promise, and so gave God the glory of his omnipotency and faithfulness.
Observe here, 1. What was the ground of Abraham’s faith; namely, the special promise, yea, the absolute promise of God, that he should have a son.
Observe, 2. The height and measure of his faith: He was strong in faith, and staggered not through unbelief; he was fully persuaded of God’s all-sufficiency: it is a metaphor taken from ships that come into the harbour with full sail. Thus was it with Abraham, there was not any sail of his soul but what was filled with the wind of assurance. As a ship with full gale and strong sail is carried to the haven against winds and waves, so Abraham, by the strength of his faith, overcame all waves of doubts and difficulties beating upon his mind.
Observe, 3. What was the fruit and issue, the end and event of Abraham’s faith, it brought glory to God: He was strong in faith, giving glory to God. All faith glorifies God truly, but strong faith glorifies him abundantly: It gives him the glory of his power and faithfulness, goodness and truth.
Quest. 1. But how could Abraham’s body be said to be dead, when he had several children afterwards by Keturah? even six months, forty years after Sarah’s death.
Ans. Abraham’s and Sarah’s bodies received now a blessing, or new generative faculty from God, which rendered them capable of begetting and bearing children when by nature they were not so.
Quest. 2. Was Abraham’s faith so strong as to exclude all doubting? Did not he distrust when he said, Shall a child be born to Abraham that is an hundred years old; and Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? Ge 21.
Ans. These words are not words of doubting but inquiring; they proceeded from a desire to be further informed of how these things could be. But Abraham laughed and Sarah also at the mention of a son. True, they did both laugh, but not both alike; Abraham’s laughter proceeded from admiration and joy, but Sarah’s from diffidence and distrust: And accordingly we find Sarah reprimanded, but not Abraham reprimanded, for laughing: Abraham staggered not at the promise through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.