Reading: Luke 1:1-80

I can’t imagine how long Zacharias and Elizabeth must have prayed to have children. Perhaps never knowing how God would use her barrenness and old age to showcase the birth of the forerunner of the Messiah. God puts His supernatural imprint right on top of hopeless and impossible situations where it will be most notable.

Not only does God choose an old barren couple  to have a child, but also a relative that’s a virgin. I don’t think the enemy was looking in those places for the Messiah!

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, he was troubled and afraid and totally unaware their prayers had been answered, and they would have a child in their old age. Zacharias responds in unbelief asking how he can know or believe this. He knew that God had, in times past, given children to several of the old and barren patriarchs.

Gabriel rebukes him for his unbelief and strikes him mute until the Word was fulfilled. Words that contradict the spoken Word of God may have eternal consequences. Gabriel wouldn’t take any chances with Zacharias’ negativity.

Mary, on the other hand didn’t struggle with the “if” God would do what He said, but the “how” God would do it. There weren’t any previous examples of virgins getting pregnant before in the Bible. But once she hears how that would happen she displays remarkable faith in her response.

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
Luke 1:38

Many prophetically predicted events would confirm this. Mary would find her relative Elizabeth was also pregnant. Elizabeth would prophesy to Mary as her baby leapt in her womb. Mary would have a prophetic song and Zacharias would speak at John’s birth as their neighbors rejoice with them when John was born.

God’s prophetic Word is activated by faith. His Word has no natural boundaries and often waits for the impossible to set the stage before its entrance. Just think, what could He do for you today?