What other Bible stories illustrate overcoming disbelief through faith? Faith in the Face of Mockery Luke 8:53—“And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.” The mourners were certain Jairus’s daughter was beyond help, yet Jesus pressed on. Scripture gives repeated, literal accounts of people who met the same wall of disbelief and pushed through by trusting God. Let’s visit a few. Abraham and Sarah – When Laughter Meets the Lord • Genesis 18:12—“So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?’” • Genesis 18:14—“Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.” Human reason said a 90-year-old mother was impossible. God’s promise overruled biology, and Isaac arrived right on schedule. Joshua and Caleb – Seeing Past the Giants • Numbers 14:9—“Only do not rebel against the LORD…their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us; do not be afraid of them!” Ten spies spread fear; two held fast to God’s word. Forty wilderness years later, Caleb still believed: • Joshua 14:12—“Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me…” Faith kept the promise alive until they possessed the land. Gideon – Three Hundred vs. Thousands • Judges 7:7—“With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands.” God whittled Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300 so victory would spotlight divine power, not human strength. David – A Shepherd Conquers a Champion • 1 Samuel 17:45—“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts.” Where Israel’s soldiers trembled, the teenage shepherd believed God’s covenant and toppled Goliath. The Syrophoenician Mother – Persistent Trust Beyond Cultural Barriers • Mark 7:29—“Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” A Gentile woman pushed past social hurdles and disciples’ objections. Her relentless faith secured her child’s freedom. The Centurion – Confidence in a Word • Luke 7:9—“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” Without seeing Jesus touch his servant, the centurion rested in Christ’s authority. Distance posed no problem for divine command. Thomas – Doubt Transformed into Declaration • John 20:27-28—“‘Put your finger here…Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’” Once convinced, Thomas offered one of Scripture’s clearest confessions of Christ’s deity. Threads That Tie the Stories Together • Disbelief is normal; staying there is optional. • God’s promises stand firmer than circumstances, age, numbers, or distance. • Each account is historical, reinforcing that what God did then He can still do now. • Faith isn’t blind optimism; it is informed trust in the unchanging character and spoken word of the Lord. These narratives echo Luke 8:53: when the crowd laughs, the believer leans harder on God’s sure promise—and witnesses the impossible become reality. |
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