ANSWERED PRAYER. 1:13 "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer." Although the timing was not what Zechariah had hoped for, the answer was beyond his wildest dreams. Not only was he blessed with a son, he was blessed with a son who would prepare the way for God's greatest entrance on earth. When his son was born, "Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughut the Judean hills." 1:65
How about you? What are you worrying about that God is saying, "Don't be afraid" Trust God -- be patient -- and watch how he will answer your prayers beyond your imagination. God is good. God is faithful. God is giving. Stand in awe!
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Tim, this is an exciting new development. I pray that it really catches on and many people are blessed by it. If we would have had a son I was going to name him Zechariah because I was always fascinated by this story and couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like for Zechariah watching John grow up knowing what he was going to do. It seems like every day you would be wondering "is today it?"
ReplyDeleteJohn
I am amazed and curious about Elizabeth's response to her pregnancy in v.23f. She is obviously overwhelmed and humbled by her answered prayer. I can't help, but tear up a the experience(I am preg. too). Tim, is there a reason she was in seclusion for five months? Was that a custom when you were pregnant? Also, I noticed that John was in the desert until he grew up. What is that about? Was he on a mission from God?
ReplyDeleteGreat questions. There is no known custom of seclusion during pregnancy. Luke doesn't tell us why she did this. Was she hiding from embarrassment from elderly pregnancy? Did she want to be seen only after she was positive she was pregnant? Was she spending extra time with God? Anybody else have an idea?
ReplyDeleteThe desert is often used literally and symbolically to represent a place spent with God away from the world's influence.
Living in the desert also compares to some of the ancient prophets such as Elijah.
There is also a parallel to a second exodus/deliverance and entering a new promised land through Jesus.
Something else to think about: since Zechariah and Elizabeth were elderly at his birth, at what age did they die? John perhaps had lost both of his parents and moved to the desert - to spend time with his heavenly father???