God has, in so many ways, offered us hope in the promises we find in scripture. The greatest hope is Christ.

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen. Deuteronomy 18:15 (ESV)

The specifics were, and are, not always clear to our human minds, but the promise is clear. The Messiah will come. The Israelites waited for so long, believing in the promises made throughout the years. These were reminders to have hope that the promise would be fulfilled.

And, the hope we have today is in the reality of the prophecies fulfilled.