Considering the Facts

This last week, I've experienced a real touch from the Lord, physically -- but at the same time, I've also experienced what some might call "reversals", or what I view as retaliations by the enemy, pure and simple -- the last throes, as it were, of an enemy defeated.

I was speaking with my mother today about this, and she reminded me of Romans 4:19-21, which recounts Abraham's experience, so I read this again. In the New International Version, it reads like this:

"¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."

When the New International Version says that Abraham "faced the fact that his body was as good as dead", that phrase "faced the fact" literally means "considered carefully." But it can also be taken in the negative, meaning "he didn't consider (or take into account)" these facts. This is why the King James Version translates this passage as:

^"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 Sarah'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."

Look at how different Bible translations have rendered this passage:

• New American Standard Bible (updated 1995) - "¹⁹ Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; ²⁰ yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform."

• New Century Version - "¹⁹ Abraham was almost a hundred years old, much past the age for having children, and Sarah could not have children. Abraham thought about all this, but his faith in God did not become weak. ²⁰ He never doubted that God would keep his promise, and he never stopped believing. He grew stronger in his faith and gave praise to God. ²¹ Abraham felt sure that God was able to do what he had promised."

• New Living Translation - "¹⁹ And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead -- and so was Sarah's womb. ²⁰ Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises."

• New Revised Standard Version - "¹⁹ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarahs womb. ²⁰ No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised."

• The Message - "¹⁹ Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, 'It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.' Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. ²⁰ He didn't tiptoe around God's promise, asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, ²¹ sure that God would make good on what he had said."

• Good News Translation - "¹⁹ He was then almost one hundred years old; but his faith did not weaken when he thought of his body, which was already practically dead, or of the fact that Sarah could not have children. ²⁰ His faith did not leave him, and he did not doubt God's promise; his faith filled him with power, and he gave praise to God. ²¹ He was absolutely sure that God would be able to do what he had promised."

• International Standard Version - "¹⁹ He did not weaken in faith when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah's inability to have children, ²⁰ nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, he became strong in faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised."

• J B Phillips - "¹⁹ With undaunted faith he looked at the facts - his own impotence (he was practically a hundred years old at the time) and his wife Sarah's apparent barrenness. ²⁰ Yet he refused to allow any distrust of a definite pronouncement of God to make him waver. He drew strength from his faith, and while giving the glory to God, ²¹ remained absolutely convinced that God was able to implement his own promise."

• The Amplified Bible - "¹⁹ He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb. ²⁰ No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, ²¹ Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised."

These translations (or paraphrases) each describe how Abraham took into account his frail condition (which was diametrically opposed to God's promise). He "considered" or "thought" or "looked" on these facts, but he did so through the lens of faith. This was because he took other facts into consideration -- particularly facts about God's faithfulness and ability to fulfill what He had promised. In Hebrews 11:11, we see that Abraham "considered" the others things to be of greater importance:

"By faith Abraham, even though he was past age -- and Sarah herself was barren -- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise."

I was challenged by the Lord with regard to what I "consider". I too, like Abraham, do not consider the symptoms to have the last say in my life. Instead, I consider other things.

I did a quick concordance study in the Bible on the word "consider" and this is what I came up with:

• Romans 8:18 - "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

• Philippians 3:8 - "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I considerthem rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

• Hebrews 11:2-3 - ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

• James 1:2 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

Like Abraham, I am also "fully assured", "fully persuaded" and "absolutely convinced" that my healing is a matter of certainty, due to God's faithfulness. I'm just waiting for the symptoms to catch up with the reality, as it stands in God, that I am healed!