More Than Just a Wish
Have you ever wished upon a your Thanksgiving Day turkey’s wishbone? The tradition of breaking the wishbone dates back thousands of years to the ancient Romans who pulled apart a chicken’s clavicle in hopes of achieving good fortune. This elastic bone is actually the fusion of the bird’s two clavicles at the base of its sternum. It holds and releases energy as the bird flaps its wings, thus an important part of the flight mechanism. Today, folklore says that the person who breaks off the bigger piece has their wish granted.
When you think of the word “hope” or “wish” what comes to mind? We often use the two words interchangeably, but they really are different in meaning and usage.
Hope refers to a feeling of desire for something to happen, with a real expectation that it could happen. When you plan a day at the beach you hope for sunshine and not rain. Or maybe you’ve planned a trip to the art museum and as you get in the car you say – I sure hope it isn’t too crowded when we get there. On the other hand, statements like “I wish I could fly” or “I wish there were more hours in the day” express a desire for something that is unlikely, having no basis in reality.
The Bible has quite a lot to say about hope. But unlike the way we use the word hope in modern conversation and vernacular, biblical hope does not convey any level of doubt. Instead, it has as its foundation a confident faith in God. In the Old Testament the word hope most often comes from a Hebrew word meaning “confidence, safety, or security.” Turning to the New Testament, we read these words in Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
The word hope in that verse is the Greek word “elpizō” which means “to fully expect, count upon, place confidence in.” In other words – there is no doubt about it!
When you have a desire of hope for good weather or an uncrowded museum, you also have a feeling of uncertainty. Biblical hope is not a feeling, it is a reality. Biblical hope is an assured confident expectation, a sure foundation upon which we can base our lives. It is looking forward to, and trusting in, all that God has promised.
Now that is more than just a wish!
Dave’s Note – As I continue to recover after suffering a stroke, I will only be writing periodically as my brain and motor skills improve. It is my goal to eventually get back to writing on a regular basis. I wish you and your family a very enjoyable Thanksgiving and start to the long holiday season.
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