Audio commentary on this verse

Note 9 at Rom. 4:19: This verse is telling us how Abraham kept from being weak in faith. The key is what he focused his attention on.

Some translations and many commentators turn this verse around to say the opposite of what the KJV says. For instance, the NIV says, "without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead," etc. However, that type of reasoning is missing one of the great scriptural keys to strong faith.

The word "consider" is defined as "1. to deliberate upon; examine; study; 4. to take into account; make allowance for; 5. to have regard for; pay attention to" (New American Heritage Dict.). The Greek word that was used is "katanoeo" which simply means "to observe fully."

Therefore, we can see that Abraham did not deliberate upon, examine, or study the age of himself and Sarah and the impact that would have on the promise God had given him. He did not take those things into account or make any allowance for them. That was not what he paid attention to.

That is amazing, and that is exactly the reason many of us would not be able to receive the same miracle. We consider every negative thing that looks contrary to God's promises and then try to overcome the fear and unbelief that comes through those thoughts with our faith (see note 3 at Mt. 17:20, p. 270). That's not the way Abraham was strong in faith.

Abram was 75 years old when the Lord first promised him that he would have a child and that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through him (Gen. 12:1-4). He was 99 years old in this instance which Paul is citing (Gen. 17:1) and Sarah was 90 years old (Gen. 17:17). Yet, he didn't even take into account the impossibility of what God had promised him.

It is true that Abraham was strong in faith (v. 20) but the thing that made him strong in faith is the fact that he kept his mind stayed on God's promise and equally important is that he kept his mind off anything which would have been contrary to God's promise. Many people desire the same strong faith that Abraham had, but very few desire to control their thinking the way Abraham did.

Faith is a direct result of what we think on. If you think on God's Word, faith comes (Rom. 8:6; 10:17). If you think on other things, unbelief and fear come (Rom. 8:6; see notes in ref. aa at this verse). If you want the faith of Abraham working in you, then think the way he thought and never consider anything except God's Word and you will be strong in faith.