Come Up Here And See

Zacharias and Elizabeth’s story in Chapter 1 of the Gospel of Luke is part of the Christmas Story with beautiful details of trusting, waiting, and not losing hope in God.  

They are of the lineage of the Levitical tribe and are priests. One scripture makes me stop and mull over because I desire that so much for myself, my family, and my friends.

• Luke 1:6 NASB They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

Wow, righteous in the sight of God means that we have God’s approval by constantly turning from our natural, sinful desires and turning to God’s righteousness. Zacharias and Elizabeth walked blamelessly in the commandments and were obedient to God’s Word. Their obedience to God did not depend on prayers being answered or not. They knew that only God is Sovereign.

They trusted God despite having a broken heart of not bearing a son and were thankful to God because of His faithfulness. They knew that God is everlasting, and He does answer prayers. They did not allow their hope to become heartsick. I believe they kept reminding themselves of the testimonies written in God’s Word, and God does not disappoint.

When Gabriel, the angel, appeared to a fear-gripped Zacharias in the temple, the angel said do not be afraid, and God has heard your petition! Gabriel was confirming that God hears all our prayers and supplications.

God answers prayers in His time and according to His will, not ours. We trust God because He is sovereign, and He loves us. We do not need to be afraid of God, because He understands us and wants only the best for us.

• Isaiah 46: 9-10 NASB Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, ¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

Zacharias and Elizabeth have been waiting and were faithful to trust and obey God. Others would rejoice with them of having an answered prayer of having a son. John was part of the sovereign plan of God to turn the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous to prepare for the way of the Lord.

• Luke 1:16-17 NASB And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John’s name in Hebrew meant “Yahweh is Gracious” or “Yahweh is Merciful”. Wikipedia

John came to prepare people for the Lord by showing us to rely on God’s mercy for forgiveness. John taught people that grace is an undeserved favour from the Lord and the empowerment to live the Christian life.

For those of us who have been waiting for a promise to be fulfilled from the Lord of either being able to have a child, or for our children to turn back to the Lord, or for the disobedient either in ourselves or others to come to the attitude of the righteousness, let me encourage you that God hears your prayers. God is answering your prayers. Trust, believe, and stand in righteousness.

• Sometimes, we place such great emphasis on our faith that God will do a certain thing. God does not depend upon our faith to operate or to work. So, when Zacharias doubted and said how is this possible? Gabriel said, “Oh, so you want a sign? You will not be able to speak until the day that the child is born because you did not believe.” The actions that God will perform do not depend on our beliefs. Our unbelief will not stop the work of God. God will do what He wants to, and that is comforting. Chuck Smith

Another wondrous part of this story is that when Zacharias arrived home after his days of priestly service, Elizabeth became pregnant and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She was quiet and did not tell anyone about her pregnancy.

If it was me, I would be ecstatically saying, “Look what the Lord has done, He has answered my prayers. I have been praying for decades to become pregnant.  I am excited about what the Lord has done. Come and rejoice with me.”

Her ability to stay quiet surprises me because I like to share about answered prayers. I want people to know that God is faithful. He hears your prayers and does not give up because He loves you. For my character, I find this part of the story overwhelming. Even when Gabriel visited Mary, the angel told her that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant with a promise. This news came as a surprise to Mary and encouraged Mary that nothing is impossible with God.

• Luke 1:36-37 NASB  And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.”

I want to encourage you to think about all the fulfilled promises during this Christmas season and that God continues to bring to fruition His promises. Be faithful and righteous just like Zacharias and Elizabeth. Trust that disobedient hearts will return to the Lord.

• 2 Peter 3:9 NASB1995 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Spirit of the Living God, I thank You that You answer our prayers in Your time, not ours. Help us to continue to be righteous and faithful to You no matter of our expectations. Holy Spirit, I also pray that our expectations would not limit You and that we would surrender our will to Yours, in Jesus’ name, amen.