Hope Prophesied

False hope will always disappoint, but we can have confident hope when it is anchored to promises from a trustworthy person. The Advent season urges us to remember God’s promises. Over and over again, the Scriptures reveal his promises that bring lasting hope because God is always faithful.

Consider just a few of his promises.

God promised Abraham descendants as innumerable as the stars. In fact, all nations would be blessed through Abraham, since the Messiah came from his line.

(Genesis 12 3)

Enslaved in Egypt, ancient Israel received the promise of deliverance

(Exodus 3:8)

God promised the nation of Judah that his plans for them were for prosperity, not harm. They would have a future and hope

(Jeremiah 29:11).

There are so many promises made to different people in various times and places. What unites them all are simple truths. Though his people often strayed, God remained faithful to his promises.

Without a doubt, the greatest promises to Israel, and to all people, are centered on the promise of the Messiah.

The first prophecy, immediately following humanity’s fall into sin, promises that the Messiah, the woman’s offspring, would crush the Serpent’s head

(Genesis 3:16).

Among the many others, Isaiah paints particularly vivid, hopeful pictures. 

The Messiah illumines dark lives:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

(Isaiah 9:2).

His is an eternal, peaceful, and blessed reign:

To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore

(Isaiah 9:6–7). 

He brings justice and mercy to the broken and needy, saying,

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn

(Isaiah 61:10-2).

Our faithful God promised all of this and more, backing it up by sending Jesus as a servant who suffered and died in our place so that we might have life.

(Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

The God who was faithful in keeping all of these promises will be faithful in keeping all of his promises to us as well. He secures our hope.