Elizabeth's Faith
"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
Luke 1:45
Earlier this month I was blessed to attend a Ladies Christmas Tea where author Toni Birdsong was the speaker. Early on in her talk, Toni mentioned this verse but I didn't have a pen handy to jot down the reference so I had to go on a hunt of my own.
It didn't take me long to find the verse that I was looking for but once I found 'the' verse, I found myself perking on the whole story.
At a glance, verse 45 is a great reminder that God does what He says He will do. That in itself is amazing! But we tend to skim over Elizabeth's story and go straight to Mary's. Mary's story is amazing! And Mary's belief that God would do the impossible is amazing. But Elizabeth, wow! She's the lady that has been speaking to me this Christmas season.
So, here's the set up:
Elizabeth's husband, Zechariah is a priest. Both Elizabeth and Zechariah are righteous people who walk blamelessly in the commands and statutes of the Lord. They were past child bearing years, yet didn't have a child.
One day, Zechariah is in the temple and an angel of the Lord appeared to him, telling him that Elizabeth would have a child. But, naturally, Zechariah doubted this because, after all, he was old, Elizabeth was old and no doubt they had given up the dream of ever having children because it was humanly impossible.
God wasn't very happy with Zechariah's doubt, so the angel said "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 (the child that I am promising you) take place, because you did not believe my words..." (v.20)
It wasn't long and Elizabeth conceived the child that was promised. And not very long after the same angel that appeared to Zechariah appeared to young Mary, telling her of God's plan to make possible the impossible.
Shortly after Mary heard about God's plan for herself and Elizabeth she headed off to visit Elizabeth and it was after the baby that Elizabeth carried leapt at the sound of Mary's greeting that Elizabeth declared "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." (v.45)
After Elizabeth's baby was born there was a whole debate about what to name the baby and when Elizabeth said that the baby's name would be John, their family and peers questioned the name choice - simply because naming a child anything but the name of a relative just wasn't done in those days. But finally Zechariah got it right and he was able to communicate that yes! the child's name was indeed going to be John!
Once Zechariah was obedient (even though it was a little later than God would have chosen) he was immediately able to speak - which fulfilled what the angel had told him would happen.
What really strikes me about this entire story is Elizabeth. She has stood out to me in a way this year that I have never before seen. She believed that God could (and would!) do the impossible! Which, I suppose, having an angel appear visibly to her might have had a little something to do with her faith - but seriously, she believed even when her belief was a solo thing. It's very hard to be alone in your belief.
Her faith had to waiver - she was human! She was a hormonal mess from pregnancy and her husband couldn't even speak! Seriously?! I'm sure she wanted to whack him over the head with the heaviest kitchen utensil she could find.
But God is ever faithful! And in HIS time, he gave Zechariah and Elizabeth their long awaited child - and all to fulfill HIS purpose. And, it was pretty cool that Zechariah was silent until the time that he was obedient. Just a little more proof that God really, really, really likes our obedience.
This year has been such an incredible year for our family. We have hoped, laughed, enjoyed being together as a family, struggled, cried, fought and rejoiced. We have set foot on some pretty high peaks, and have fallen from some pretty low valleys, but through it all God has been incredibly loving and faithful.
Sometimes we haven't been obedient. Sometimes the absolutely, only thing that we could offer Him was obedience.
A relationship with Jesus isn't about a path that is laid out clear and straight, it is a daily journey to seek His will. Some days we did that way better than others. But God has remained faithful! At times we haven't understood His purpose, and honestly, right now today, I don't understand where he has taken us this year and what lays ahead. But I do understand that God has a never stopping, never ceasing, always and forever love for his kids.
As we celebrate another Christmas and look toward a new year, it is with the knowledge that "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
And THAT is something that I think Elizabeth had a pretty good handle on!
After Elizabeth's baby was born there was a whole debate about what to name the baby and when Elizabeth said that the baby's name would be John, their family and peers questioned the name choice - simply because naming a child anything but the name of a relative just wasn't done in those days. But finally Zechariah got it right and he was able to communicate that yes! the child's name was indeed going to be John!
Once Zechariah was obedient (even though it was a little later than God would have chosen) he was immediately able to speak - which fulfilled what the angel had told him would happen.
What really strikes me about this entire story is Elizabeth. She has stood out to me in a way this year that I have never before seen. She believed that God could (and would!) do the impossible! Which, I suppose, having an angel appear visibly to her might have had a little something to do with her faith - but seriously, she believed even when her belief was a solo thing. It's very hard to be alone in your belief.
Her faith had to waiver - she was human! She was a hormonal mess from pregnancy and her husband couldn't even speak! Seriously?! I'm sure she wanted to whack him over the head with the heaviest kitchen utensil she could find.
But God is ever faithful! And in HIS time, he gave Zechariah and Elizabeth their long awaited child - and all to fulfill HIS purpose. And, it was pretty cool that Zechariah was silent until the time that he was obedient. Just a little more proof that God really, really, really likes our obedience.
This year has been such an incredible year for our family. We have hoped, laughed, enjoyed being together as a family, struggled, cried, fought and rejoiced. We have set foot on some pretty high peaks, and have fallen from some pretty low valleys, but through it all God has been incredibly loving and faithful.
Sometimes we haven't been obedient. Sometimes the absolutely, only thing that we could offer Him was obedience.
A relationship with Jesus isn't about a path that is laid out clear and straight, it is a daily journey to seek His will. Some days we did that way better than others. But God has remained faithful! At times we haven't understood His purpose, and honestly, right now today, I don't understand where he has taken us this year and what lays ahead. But I do understand that God has a never stopping, never ceasing, always and forever love for his kids.
As we celebrate another Christmas and look toward a new year, it is with the knowledge that "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
And THAT is something that I think Elizabeth had a pretty good handle on!
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