Faith, Hope, and the Sons of God: God’s Sovereign Plan Through the Ages

1. God’s Eternal Purpose: A Plan Rooted in Sovereign Will

Before the foundation of the world, God planned everything according to His sovereign will. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth”. God foreordained a plan for His son, by promising as bride from the world. These people He also predestined for adoption. His purpose was not reactionary but predetermined, and He ordained the beginning, the present and the end. He created a time-based earth. He fashioned every aspect of it with precision. He designed all to function according to it’s season.

God’s plan is being executed in stages—revealed through different ages—but always centered on revealing His sons, those whom He has foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” — Ephesians 1:4

“According to His purpose who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” — Ephesians 1:11

2. The Patriarchs and a world under curse:  A Time of Longing and Faith

The generations from Adam to Noah (Genesis 5), especially from Mahalallel’s time, lived in a world progressively filled with corruption, violence, and rebellion. Giants roamed the earth. Wickedness abounded. Yet amid this darkness, these fathers, the remnant walked with God, holding fast to the hope of deliverance.

In Genesis 6 we read “Now it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and hey took wives for themselves of all whom they choose (Ge 6:1-2)….  and the children born to them were giants and mighty men . We also read that the wickedness of men was great in the earth and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”.

Notably, Enoch walked with God and was not because God took him, a foreshadowing of the future translation of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:17), and likely a source of hope to the other patriarchs who lived alongside him and his memory. He lived only 365 years whereas his fathers and descendents lived close to 900 years.

When Noah was born his father Lamech said about Noah “ This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because of hr ground which the Lord has cursed”. These patriarchs had suffering on earth. They lived their lives by pleasing God but the men around them were not like them. These fathers were possibly desired to have a shorter life because the life on earth was with struggle, pain and misery.

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death… for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” — Hebrews 11:5

These men, though surrounded by evil, might have encouraged each other through the promise of God’s presence and the hope of deliverance.

In Genesis 6:6-7 we read “And the Lord was sorry because he had made man on the earth and he was grieved in His heart and the Lord said “I will destroy  man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man’s and beast, creating thing and bird of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them”

3. The Grace to Noah: Salvation in Judgment

In the midst of judgment, God extended grace to Noah:

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” — Genesis 6:8

Noah and his household were saved—not because of their works, but because of God’s plan and purpose as God extended grace to Noah. By the call of God, through faith Noah obeyed God’s instruction. After the flood, Noah’s offering led to God’s declaration:

“I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” — Genesis 8:21

God then established new natural patterns (Genesis 8:22), a picture of grace preserving life despite human sin.

4. The Sons of God: From Rebellion to Redemption

The phrase ‘sons of God’ appears in Genesis 6, associated with rebellion. These ‘sons’ who defied God were judged.

But now, in Christ, true sons of God are being revealed, not by flesh, but by the Spirit:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” — Romans 8:14

“The creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” — Romans 8:19

5. Faith and Hope Through the Ages: The Testimony of the Saints

The ancient saints saw the promises from afar and embraced them:

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them…” — Hebrews 11:13

Their hope was anchored in God’s promise. They confessed they were strangers and pilgrims, waiting for a better country, that is, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:16).

6. Present Suffering, Future Glory: The Church’s Living Hope

Paul, writing to the Romans, paints a powerful picture of this journey:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” — Romans 8:18

Creation itself is longing for the fulfillment:

“The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope.” — Romans 8:20

“We also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope…” — Romans 8:23–24

7. The Church Awaits Her Bridegroom

Now, the church—the bride of Christ—awaits the coming of her Lord. This is our blessed hope:

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” — Titus 2:13

Until then, we walk by faith, strengthened by the Spirit, trusting that:

“All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28

Conclusion: Gathered by Grace, Glorified in Hope

From the patriarchs before the flood, through the testimony of the saints, and now in the church age, faith and hope have always been central to God’s plan. This hope is not man’s invention—it is the gift of God, born from His eternal counsel and fulfilled in Christ.

The sons of God are being gathered—born of the Spirit, purified by suffering, and waiting for the day of full redemption. On that day, we shall see Him and be like Him (1 John 3:2). Until then, we wait in hope, a hope that does not disappoint.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13