What other biblical examples show God fulfilling promises despite human doubt? Sarah’s Laugh—and God’s Promise • Genesis 18:12: “So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?’” • Her private laugh did not cancel God’s vow. A year later, “The LORD did for Sarah what He had promised” (Genesis 21:1). Familiar Pattern: Human Unbelief, Divine Follow-Through Throughout Scripture, people second-guess what the Lord says, yet He still completes His word—every time. Snapshots of Doubt Met by Fulfillment • Abraham—Genesis 17:17 – Doubt: “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old?” – Fulfillment: Isaac’s birth (Genesis 21:2). • Moses—Exodus 3–4 – Doubt: “Who am I?” (3:11); “What if they do not believe me?” (4:1); “I am slow of speech” (4:10). – Fulfillment: Israel walks out of Egypt, plunder in hand (Exodus 12:41, 51). • Israel at the Red Sea—Exodus 14:11–12 – Doubt: “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to die in the wilderness?” – Fulfillment: “The LORD saved Israel that day” as the sea closed over the Egyptians (14:30). • Gideon—Judges 6:13, 17 – Doubt: “If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened?” “Give me a sign.” – Fulfillment: Midian routed with only 300 men (Judges 7:7, 22). • Elisha’s day—2 Kings 7:2, 16–17 – Doubt: Officer sneers, “Even if the LORD were to open the floodgates of heaven, could this happen?” – Fulfillment: Overnight, Samaria’s famine ends; the doubting officer dies in the gate he disbelieved would overflow. • Zechariah—Luke 1:18, 20, 57 – Doubt: “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man.” – Fulfillment: John the Baptist is born; Zechariah’s speech returns. • Disciples’ Thomas—John 20:25–28 – Doubt: “Unless I see … I will never believe.” – Fulfillment: The risen Christ stands before him; Thomas confesses, “My Lord and my God!” What These Stories Whisper to Us • God’s reliability is anchored in His character, not in our confidence. • Doubt may delay our joy, but it cannot derail His plan. • Each fulfilled promise becomes fresh evidence that we can trust the next one. |
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