Is this passage in the bible unreasonalbe?

Question

Romans 4

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."[d] 19Without 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. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Answer 1

Not unreasonable if you understand that time was looked at differently when this story was first told.

100 years old did not actually mean 100 years had passed since the persons birth. It just meant that they were old. both 40 and 100 were terms used to convey the idea of a lot.

They were not ever meant to be taken as exact measures of anything. People of that time understood this well. References like fasting for 40 days and 40 nights or Ali-baba and the 40 thieves are examples. It did not mean that Ali-baba hung out with exactly 40 thieves. It just meant a lot, or a long time if time was the variable.

The problem started when modern people read these references and assume they are to be taken literally. A 1000 years ago people understood exactly what was meant, now it can get confusing.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

Um...this is to state Abraham's faith in God. I don't see how it's unreasonable. I think that it's because
1. You're not a Christian
2. You ARE a Christian, but you don't really know much about God's power.
This is very reasonable because Abraham only believed that he would have a son even if he was old and his wife couldn't have children. I find it reasonable because it states the power of God. Where it says "he was strengthened", this could be a statement about the birth of Isaac, who was born after Abraham was sure that he would never have children. And through Abraham, the nations multiplied. If it weren't for Abraham or God, we wouldn't be here.

Answer 3

Truthfully, it doesn't make much sense to me in that version. "Some might protest that the low regard of the Scriptures held by Westcott and Hort has nothing to do with the modern versions of today. You are wrong. First, the new Bible versions are built on the Greek New Testament compiled by them." 1
The King James Version of it makes perfect sense to me and no part of the inspired Word of God is unreasonable. I've always wondered why people in the world expect Christians to understand all mysteries simply because they are Christians? Even if one did, without charity it would profit nothing. 2
It is possible and reasonable to believe God because He does not lie. His promises, although it seems completely against hope, reason, and probability to our way of thinking and seeing circumstances in the natural, are never made without the ability of God to perform it or see it through to completion in other words. Abraham believed God because He knew the character of God. (my views) 3 (agreeing with trusted commentaries such as M.H.)
That is faith. This is why I believe there will be some saved in the last days who are living in gross sins even though the times of the Gentiles are almost fulfilled.

Answer 4

No, not at all.
Abraham was in doubt about bringing a family into such as the world was.
Abraham was consulting with God on every thing he did.
At age 100 and Sarah age 90 when Isaac was born 452 years after the flood. Gen.21:5; and Gen.35:28,29; died at age 180 at 632 years after the flood.

Why did God give him a Promised Land covenant. Gen.13:2; He was rich, why did he not buy 1000 acres of land?

Answer 5

It is not unreasonable as Abraham's faith in God was unwavering, even if he didn't understand how, He knew God was faithful to His promises, in God there was no doubt for Abraham. God never breaks a promise nor does His Word return void.

Answer 6

Unreasonable! A life dedicated to nothing less than honor and trust in Our Father?
Not unreasonable my friend, it is the only Way.

However, not all the sons of Abraham continued to walk in righteousness with Our Father. For those Our Father sent His son and so in this age only through the merciful cleansing of Jesus Christ, may we once again walk with Our Father along the righteous path.

Answer 7

'Tis the power of faith my friend, it's a powerful thing.

I know about this story particularly because I also waited long past any hope of being a mother, then was given the gift of not just one but two adorable children.

Unfortunately, I was not as faithful as Abraham and had also given up hope. I had accepted that it wasn't meant to be and tried to go on with my life, but that brought me only depression. My only regret is that I'd kept my faith that it was meant to be, I would have suffered less from my own lack.

Answer 8

I'm not sure what you are asking. Are you asking if it is unreasonable to believe that God can do what seems physically impossible? No it is by faith we believe that God can do anything and will do as he promised. We do not see things in the physical as the be all end all but have faith in God knowing that God is not under physical laws and can do anything he sees as good.

Answer 9

Not only reasonable, but valid and approriate.

Hebrews 11: 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

Answer 10

Why would it be unreasonable? God is able to do anything. Read the first five books of the Old Testament (called the Pentateuch) for the complete story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.