should be as numerous as the stars. It has already been seen, however, that the apostle understood this promise as including far more than that the natural descendants of Abraham should be very numerous ; see vs. 13, 17. The expression in the text is a concise allusion to the various promises made to the ancient patriarch, which had reference to all nations being- blessed through him. The promise of a numerous posterity, therefore, included the promise of Christ and his redemption. This is evident, 1. Because Paul had been speaking of a promise, v. 16, in which believing Jews and Gentiles were alike interested ; see Gal. 3 : 14. 2. Because Paul asserts and argues that the seed promised to Abraham, and to which the promise related, was Jesus Christ, Gal. 3 : 16. 3. So Abraham himself understood it, according to the declaration of our Saviour; John 8 : 56, "Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad." He looked forward under the greatest discouragements to the Redeemer as yet to come ; we have the easier task to look back to the same Deliverer, who has died for our sins, and risen again for our justification, v. 25.
(19) And not being weak in faith, he considered not his own hody^ now dead, &c. The 18th verse had stated it was contrary to all appear- ances that Abraham believed ; this verse states the circumstances which tendered the accomplishment of the promise an apparent impossibility, viz. his own advanced age, and the age and barrenness of his wife. These circumstances he did not consider, that is, he did not allow them to have weight, he did not fix his mind on the difficulties of the case. Had he been weak in faith, and allowed himself to dwell on the obsta- cles to the fulfilment of the divine promise, he would have staggered.*
(20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief &c. The word rendered to stagger signifies, in the middle voice, to contend with any one, to be in strife with one^s self, to doubt or hesitate. Matt. 21 : 21, "If ye have faith, and doubt not," &c. ' He was not in doubt as to the promise,' &c.; see the same use of the preposition here used. Acts 25 : 20. Luke 12 : 21, &c. &c. But was strong in faith, giving glory to God, that is, giving God credit for veracity and power, influenced by a reverential conviction of the truth and ability of him who had given the promise. To give glory to God is to feel and act in a manner becoming the divine character, see 1 Sam. 6:5; and also in such a way as to cause him to be honoured by others. Josh. 7 : 19, &c. &c. To believe the divine declarations is, therefore, the highest honour we can render God, and to disbelieve them is a great offence to the divine majesty; compare 1 John 5: 10.
(21) Jlnd being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform. This verse is an amplification and explanation of the
* The fact that Abraham, many years after the promise of the birth of Isaac, had several children by Keturah, can create no difficulty, as the effect of the divine power doubtless remained.
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