Leviticus 26: 14-46, Leviticus 27: Luke 1: 1-25, Psalm 42: 7-11
Luke 1: 18-20 (ESV)
“And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered
him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to
you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable
to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not
believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
In verses 18-20, we read about Zechariah’s questions and
doubts to the Angel Gabriel and the results of his doubt. Zechariah was a
devoted man to God, but when the Angel Gabriel gave him news of the upcoming
birth of his son we see his doubts. Elizabeth, Zachariah’s wife, was old and
for her to birth a son would have been a miracle. Even though Zechariah was a
devoted man to God, he couldn’t believe what the Gabriel had told him. Zechariah
and his wife had probably spent years praying for a son, so to have a son now
in their old age would have been unbelievable. I can understand Zechariah’s
doubts because he had probably given up on ever having a son, and to have his prayers
answered now must have seemed crazy. Zechariah needed a sign, even though the
Angel Gabriel speaking to him was not enough of a sign. I felt bad for Zechariah
in these verses because I so understand his doubt. He didn’t want to be
disappointed again, even though it was a miracle in and of itself that the
Angel Gabriel was speaking to him. The news of his son having such a prominent
role in the coming of the Messiah must also have seemed to be unbelievable to Zechariah.
Zechariah was punished with muteness for his doubts, but God was still merciful
to him because Elizabeth still became pregnant. In these verses we see an example
of how even devoted people have doubts about God in their life, and of God’s mercy
for these people despite their doubts.
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