God’s gifts are always blessings. But, how often do we see a gift–-or at least a part of a gift–-as a problem or a difficulty? To fully appreciate His grace in our lives, it helps to see with His eyes. But that is not always easy.
Consider the story of the angel Gabriel's visit to Zacharias. Zacharias and Elizabeth had always wanted a son. And in the very moment he receives the promise that a son is at last coming, Zacharias is made mute--unable to tell anyone the good news--because he asked the natural question any man in his shoes might have asked:
18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” – Luke 1:18-20 (NASB)
Zacharias asks how he will know for certain. For that he is made mute for nine months.
For years, whenever I read these verses I saw punishment and heard rebuke in Gabriel's words. Recently, I have instead come to see that “punishment” as a gift and that “rebuke” as a loving response to a scared human being.
Zacharias asked for a sign and God gave him one.
Not only did He give him a sign, He gave him one that stayed with him. His muteness accompanied him through every waking moment from the announcement to the dedication of the child. He was given the certainty he asked for–blessed with unmistakable evidence that God was with him, and with Elizabeth, the whole way through.
The Bible is silent about his experience, but we can imagine the torments he could have faced and the comfort the sign brought.
When he struggled with the notion that he and Elizabeth could conceive a child in their old age, there was the sign reminding him of what God said.
When Elizabeth complained of an odd pain in her tenth week he saw his dream dying. He pictured his older neighbors, the ones who had five and six children, losing their last babies long before they came to term. These were losses that came so early in the pregnancy they’d only ever told him, their priest, they were pregnant.
But then, his silent tongue testified loudly to God's promise–your son will be born and live to be a forerunner for the Messiah.
Or again, when she spotted a little blood in her twenty-fourth week. He felt the terror of watching her go through the pains of a late miscarriage sweep over him. His heart grew cold at the thought that everyone in his shoes should know there was no hope of the child surviving.
But there was the still small voice of God speaking to him through his mute tongue saying: "I am stronger than death. This child shall live."
And when Elizabeth cried out in the agonies of childbirth, he was tempted to expect her to die--a woman too old to get pregnant, let alone give birth.
But there was that imposed silence. That muteness that prevented him from begging the midwife to save them was also reminding him that the voice of his Creator had promised that the boy would live.
The One who always keeps His Word spoke again and again through Zacharias' silence–-reassuring His beloved servant right up to the day they were to name that strong and healthy son. His eloquent sign stayed with him until all danger of death related to pregnancy and childbirth was behind them.
And when Zacharias finally spoke on the day they dedicated his son–-Do you remember the story?--A crowd had gathered to celebrate with him and with Elizabeth.
“Name him, Zacharias,” one neighbor shouted. And they all joined the chorus.
There was Elizabeth, a voice alone: “He shall be called John,” She said.
No one believed her. No one really listened. Everyone was sure the boy should be named for his father. To honor him. To honor his family.
But, Zacharias stood with his wife. He chose to honor the One who had silently stayed with them before, during, and after the pregnancy…
He grabbed a tablet and scribbled "His name is John"--the name the angel Gabriel had said his son would bear. In that moment, God gave him his voice back…and oh, did he speak.
Zacharias proclaimed God’s faithfulness. He spoke of God’s redemption. As a proud father and as an obedient servant of God, he shared the promise that his baby boy would grow up and tell the world about the coming of the Messiah. All that poured out of him. His boldness and confidence as he delivered the prophecy Gabriel had given him was the fruit of his muteness, ripened through nearly a year of listening.
Through nine months of silence, God was speaking to Zacharias every moment he was awake. Over and over again the sign spoke for God saying, "I am the Lord. I keep my promises. Know for certain that your son will be conceived. He will survive through the time in his mother's womb, be born, and grow to be a mighty prophet of the Lord." Could there be any clearer sign of God's favor than the muteness of Zacharias?
Zacharias had feared he would not receive that which was promised. And his fear was met with the sign to overcome it. Such is the way of God.
May we all recognize when God gives us such signs. May we rejoice in such times that He is the One who reveals. He is the One who speaks. He is the One who loves us enough to give us all that we need to know that He does keep and always will keep His promises to us.
Amen.