Gabriel’s announcement that Zacharias and Elizabeth would have a son was beyond belief. How many of us would be “okay” if an angel suddenly appeared to us and made astounding promises? And yet, the very fact that a supernatural event took place should’ve alerted Zacharias that everything said was from the Lord Himself.
Instead, he did not believe the angel’s words. He thought that he and his wife were “past their prime.” He assessed the situation with human eyes, not with eyes of faith. So, he is afflicted with muteness until his son’s birth (v. 64). And in his silence, he will learn to take God’s word at face value, even when it goes against all expectations.
Now, Zacharias should have known better. Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God (v. 19), has just spoken a promise from the throneroom of heaven. Through this experience, what Zacharias must learn – and what we must learn – is that God will act whenever He wants and however He wants…even if what He does goes against what we think is the grain. He is sovereign. Yet, we know that in fulfilling His promises, He will always glorify Himself and do us great good.
We see this truth about God when Elizabeth becomes pregnant (v. 24) – just as promised. Luke tells this part of the story so plainly, which helps us focus on this: God did act.
Elizabeth, realizing what has taken place, blesses the Lord for looking upon her in grace and taking away the cultural disgrace of barrenness (v. 25). She praises Him. She focuses on Him.
That is what faith does. Zacharias will learn that lesson soon enough.
What we realize at this moment in the Advent story is that the sovereign God goes against our expectations. But it’s always been this way, ever since the Fall. He promised a seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head (Gen 3:15). He’s given children to older barren women. And here, He’s done that again. And He’s sending His Son into the world, in human flesh and blood, to save Jews and Gentiles, not by might but by weakness, by death. Almost no one expected this.
This Advent ask the Lord to teach you something from the Christmas story, something that will help you grow, help you draw closer to Him, or help in your walk in Christ. Ask Him in faith. Then wait, and expect Him to answer you in ways that go against all your expectations.
