The Long Wait

Continuing my read of Luke's Gospel - I was struck by the personal story of Zecharaiah and Elizabeth. So often I read stories and am so familiar with them, I just pass over really significant things, and don't let them fully impact me. In this case it was the fact that they were both, according to Luke, very old. Even in those days they knew when a person was past being able to bear children, and understood the normal rhythm of life. If the author, in this case Luke says they were barren and says they were very old, it must have been clearly so (see verse 7 below).

I was thinking about the personal ramifications of this barrenness. There was a belief that children were a blessing from God, and unfortunately a couple without children was considered disgraced - or unblessed by society. Yet in the midst of that social stigma, these two were faithful and honoring of God, and unwilling to become offended at God, which is such an important perspective to choose. I am also struck by how often we look at people in difficult situations and somehow think it is their fault, or they are to blame somehow. That was a weight they felt, and more specifically felt by Elizabeth as her child-bearing years passed her by. She speaks about being free of that disgrace - in the Greek 'a bad name' in verse 25, so it clearly was something she felt.

One almost gets the feeling that they had probably, by this point, stopped praying for a child, as the time was past. Yet those prayers that were long ago prayed were still remembered by God. They didn't know their long wait was over, and that God had a miraculous plan for them.

That was my encouragement this morning, that God's plan and blessing is worth waiting for and believing in, regardless of how long of a wait there is on our part. He is capable of reaching into the most impossible of situations and bringing life and blessing. In the perfect time, God will act and it will be glorious. I heard someone say that the longer we wait for the fulfillment of a promise, the more glorious will be the fulfillment. So that is my encouragement today - to not give up on God, no matter what, it will be worth the wait!

Here are the verses from Luke:

Luke 1:5-20, 23-25 NIV
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. [6] Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. [7] But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

[8] Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, [9] he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. [11] Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. [12] When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. [13] But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. [14] He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, [15] for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. [16] He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. [17] And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous---to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” [18] Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” [19] The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. [20] And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

[23] When his time of service was completed, he returned home. [24] After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. [25] “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”