Abraham's hope illustrates the quality of hope as the measure of any man. He was a great man because one cannot possibly hope in anything greater. Paul says of Abraham that contrary to hope in hope he believed so that he became the father of many nations. His hope was so strong that in spite of having no physical reason to hope for descendants through Sarah because she was beyond childbearing years he nonetheless hoped to the end. When Isaac was born his hope was vindicated because he had placed his hope in God. The hope for better things that accompany salvation requires the full assurance of hope until the end. This full development of hope overcomes lassitude and enables one to carry out responsibilities to God all the way to the end.