KNOWN AS THE MOTHER OF A MESSENGER
Luke 1
IMAGINE: You are up in years, your husband arrives home from work, he cannot speak, but hand signals something about an angel and an upcoming pregnancy.
The Bible states both Elizabeth and Zachariah (Zacharias) her husband were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. (Lk. 1:6).
This was a Godly couple living in Godless surroundings. It had been over 400 years since the last prophet of God had been on the scene. In that day many may have thought God had forgotten them. Many, for sure, had forgotten God. But this couple, we are told, was blameless.
But they had no children because
Elizabeth could not conceive, and
both of them were well along in years.
Luke 1:17
Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron but, despite her impeccable family lineage and her Godly character, Elizabeth was barren. In that day and age, being unable to bear children for your husband carried an intense stigma. Many Jewish Rabbis insisted childlessness was evidence of Divine disfavor.
The phrase “advanced in years” meant the prospect of children on the horizon appeared every bit of hopeless. It is recorded that this couple was righteous before God, but the paradigm would have been there was probably a serious secret sin harboring within their home. This may be why they lived in “Hebron, in the hill country of Judea”, so as not to arouse gossip as to why such disfavor was given them.
Elizabeth and Zachariah chose to live in an obscure village in the hilly region south of Jerusalem, some eighteen miles distance rather than, as the other priests, in the elite section of the city itself, or in Jericho, the luxurious city of the palms. They also may have lived in the hill country so as to not live in and among the religious elite who were not blameless.
Barrenness was an acceptable ground for divorce, but apparently Zachariah chose prayer instead.
When his division was on duty
and he was serving as priest before God…
An angel of the Lord appeared to him…
But the angel said to him:
Do not be afraid, Zachariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you will name him John.
Luke 1:8, 11, 13
While Zachariah was inside at the Alter of Incense, a crowd outside gathered to pray. The incense for which Zachariah was responsible symbolized the prayers of the entire Nation. In announcing the birth of a son to him and Elizabeth, meant possibly the people’s prayer for their Messiah and his prayer for a son were combined and would come to fruition in the very near future.
After these days his wife Elizabeth
conceived and kept herself in
seclusion for five months. She said,
“The Lord has done this for me.
He has looked with favor in
these days to take away my
disgrace among the people.”
Lk. 1:24, 25
Again, childlessness carried a social stigma that could be very humiliating. Elizabeth already lived somewhat in seclusion living in the hill country of Judea. She now apparently kept herself indoors, possibly to protect her pregnancy.
She does, however, receive a visitor in her sixth month of pregnancy who is a relative of hers from Nazareth. When her relative, Mary, greets her the baby in her womb leaps and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. In that moment she recognizes she is being visited by the mother of the expected Messiah.
These two Godly women most likely knew and were anticipating the coming of the long, awaited Messiah. But how do you grasp that you have a large part to play in that prophesy? The Angel had told her husband to name the child John which means “the Lord is gracious.”
The Lord was indeed gracious to them. They had merely asked for a son to carry on the family name and priesthood. God gave them the forerunner of the Messiah, a child upon whom the hand of God was evident while in his mother’s womb. A man whom Jesus would later call the “greatest among men.” (Matt. 211:11). The man all have known for over 2,000 years, up to and including today, as John the Baptist.
On the eighth day the child was circumcised and named John. This is the last mention of Elizabeth. With her being older we are not told if she lived to see her son grown and living his calling.
Elizabeth, in her old age, gave birth to a unique child with the hand of God upon Him. Her little boy would one day be a prophet of the Most High God. He would bring the knowledge of salvation to the people and pave the way for the ministry of Christ.
The challenges of rearing and teaching such a child would be mindboggling. Zachariah and Elizabeth would be teaching him the Holy Scriptures including the prophesies pertaining to him and the purpose God had laid before him “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord!”
Elizabeth may have thought herself to be ordinary and unimportant, being childless as she was. But, God has no ordinary or unimportant children of His own. There is no service too late, too early, too small, too big, or too unimportant. He will use each of His children in His perfect timing, in His perfect way.
Anytime we think we have no importance living out our “golden years” in some wilderness surroundings, be careful. Our life, like Elizabeth might just take an unexpected turn. A turn that will affect the lives of others, be it in a small way or dramatic way. It will be in God’s way! We never know what God has on the horizon for the life he has given us, the purpose He has determined for us.
Something to consider:
You are never too old
to set another goal
or to dream a new dream.
C. S. Lewis
BIBLICAL PEOPLE 