Listen to a child plead for something special. “Pretty please, with a cherry on top.” Wistful eyes and a smile double the deed, making it very hard to say no.
We want to promise anything in return. We say yes, but just to make sure we’re understood, we double up on our pledge. “I promise. I absolutely promise. Cross my heart, stick a needle in my eye.”
We’re emphasizing the sincerity of our intent. We have no intention of reneging. Our word is our rock of assurance. It’s as good as done.
It’s a double promise, with double the emphasis, and double the binding power. We’ve wrapped our words in a cord, then to make it stronger, we’ve wrapped it a second time.
It can’t come undone.
Zechariah 3:2 gives us God’s double promise.
“The Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan; even the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”
God slams his words into Satan’s evil machinations not once, but twice, telling the father of lies that Israel is his, chosen, rescued from the infamy of false gods, and set up before the world as his people. The world may be afire with the fecundity of evil, but God has snatched Israel and lifted her high to blaze with his glory before all mankind.
In effect, God says, “I’ve given Israel my word. I’ve double promised that they will be my children always, and I will continually have my hand on them. Back off, Satan!”
God gives us that same double promise today. We don’t have to doubt his assurances of love. When we read a verse, and we feel that connection, then there need be no room for doubt. When our spouse falls ill, and our pastor reminds us that by Christ’s stripes we are healed, we’ve got the ultimate doctor on call, and on two different lines. Financial rescue? Done. Twice. Family disruption? Already resolved, in half the time. Addictions? Misunderstandings with neighbors? Car troubles? A job hunt? God’s got us not just in one hand, but he has both hands around us.
He assures us, “I promise, and my word comes with a cherry on top.”
He makes certain we are reassured, and then he comes through, just as any good parent should.
When God makes a promise, he really, really will make it good in the end.
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