Doubt

Now, I find a great many people who want some evidence that they have accepted the Son of God. My friends, if you want any evidence, take God's word for it. You can't find better evidence than that. You know that when the Angel Gabriel came down and told Zachariah he should have a son he wanted a further token than the angel's word. He asked Gabriel for it and he answered, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Lord." He had never been doubted, and he thundered out this to Zachariah. But he wanted a further token, and Gabriel said, "You shall have a token: you shall be mute till your son shall be given you."  D.L. Moody

One of the things that I find interesting in our human nature is our need for proof.  We want proof of why something happens or exits.  We expect God to do something great to convince us that He exists and that He is who He says He is. 

There are stories in the Bible over and over again about people not believing what He says.  Remember Sarah who laughed when God said she would have a child.  Can you imagine laughing at God and having Him tell you, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

Then there was Zacharias whose wife couldn’t have children and God sent the angel Gabriel to tell him his wife would bear a child.  Zacharias didn’t believe what the angel told him so he questioned their ability to have a child because they were both advanced in years or in other words “old.”  Gabriel fixed him for that one.  Through God’s power he made him mute until the child was born. 

If you think about it, we question God every day.  We don’t believe in His power or that He will make all things good for those who trust in Him.  So we go through life questioning why God allows us to become ill or lose a job and we continue to go on questioning Him and asking ourselves if He really does know what is best for us.  We are really continuing the pattern that began centuries ago in questioning God’s every move.

God gives us hundreds of examples of how He works but we continue to require more proof.  If we put ourselves in the place of Zacharias and his encounter with Gabriel, being mute for 9 months might not be such a bad thing.  It would give us plenty of time to thank Him for being merciful.                

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I often question why things happen in my life.  I have seen over and over again how you have made good come out of the disappointments in my life.  You know what is best for me and I praise You for showing me who You really are in my times of trouble.         

Scripture:  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.  But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.  But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. Luke 1:13-22