Every time I learn in regards to the foretelling of the beginning of John the Baptist, as recorded in Luke 1, my sympathy goes out to Zacharias, the priest. Of him and his spouse Elisabeth we’re advised: “They usually had been each righteous earlier than God, strolling in all of the commandments and ordinances of the Lord innocent. They usually had no baby, as a result of that Elisabeth was barren, they usually each had been now effectively stricken in years” (vv. 6-7, KJV). Nonetheless, someday whereas Zacharias “executed the priestly workplace earlier than God… within the temple of the Lord,” an angel of the Lord appeared unto him with the pronunciation that “thy spouse Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt name his title John,” amongst different issues (vv. 13-17). In fact, Zacharias did what anybody in his place with an aged spouse would do. He “mentioned unto the angel, ‘Whereby shall I do know this? for I’m an previous man, and my spouse effectively stricken in years’” (v. 18). In different phrases, “Do you count on me to consider this? I’m an previous man and my spouse is an previous girl” (The Message). Luke continues, “And the angel answering mentioned unto him, ‘I’m Gabriel, that stands within the presence of God, and am despatched to talk unto thee and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb and never capable of communicate, till the day that these items shall be carried out, as a result of thou believest not my phrases, which shall be fulfilled of their season’” (vv. 19-20, KJV). Poor Zacharias was struck dumb for a number of months as a result of he didn’t consider the angel of the Lord.
Nonetheless, who may have blamed him for asking the apparent? Elisabeth was so dumbfounded that when she did conceive, she “hid herself 5 months” (v. 24) in order that, as Bible Commentator Adam Clarke places it, “she may need the fullest proof of the accomplishment of God’s promise earlier than she appeared in public, or spoke of her mercies.” She and Zacharias appeared on the circumstances of their age, and although they had been each righteous and innocent earlier than God, religion didn’t come simply within the face of the information. It’s fascinating to notice that six months after showing to Zacharias, the identical angel “was despatched from God” to Nazareth, this time “to a virgin espoused to a person whose title was Joseph, of the home of David; and the virgin’s title was Mary” (vv. 26-27). After the pronunciation that she would conceive and convey for a son who was to be known as Jesus, amongst different issues, Mary too responded in a way that was according to the information of her scenario on the time: “How shall this be, seeing I do know not a person?” (v. 34). The angel’s response to the query was not a pronunciation of dumbness or some other affliction however certainly one of assurance: “The Holy Ghost shall encounter thee, and the facility of the Highest shall overshadow thee; subsequently additionally that holy factor which shall be born of thee shall be known as the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath additionally conceived a son in her previous age, and that is the sixth month together with her, who was known as barren. For with God, nothing shall be not possible” (vv. 35-37).
What can we take away from these two narratives? Probably the most vital for me is the reminder that God doesn’t permit the information of our circumstances to get in the way in which of what He needs to do in our lives. Illness? No downside! Born on the mistaken facet of the tracks? No downside! Tousled life? No downside! Regardless of the information of our circumstances, they’re no downside for God! Ask Abram and Sarah and the various women and men all through historical past in whose lives He has labored when the information had been in opposition to them. The reality of the matter is that He’s nonetheless the identical God, and because it was then, it’s nonetheless true right this moment—completely nothing according to His nature is not possible with Him. He’s all-powerful; He has all energy to do no matter He functions to do, topic solely to the restraints He places on Himself. Don’t let the information of your circumstances get in the way in which of the reality of God’s skills. Within the huge scheme of issues, the information aren’t any match for the reality of what God can do.
From my home to yours, a really Merry Christmas.
