“And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.” (Luke 1:20)
“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” That’s simple to answer. God hears everything, so it does make a sound. It had been decades since Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for a child. They had been waiting for a long time. They asked God for something, but He didn’t just give it to them. They got more from Him than they ever thought or hoped for.
An angel brought the good news to Zechariah in Luke 1:13–17. The angelic being told them they would have a son, and he would be filled with the Holy Spirit while in his mother’s womb. The Spirit of God would always be with their child. All the years they were sad because they didn't have a child would end with unimaginable joy because their son would bring many Israelites back to the Lord.
Do not miss the last words the angel said to Zechariah. He said, “. . . which shall be fulfilled in their season.” (Luke 1:20).That is, he (John) would come when the time was right. Before Elizabeth and Zechariah were born, God had already marked this day. God had been listening to all prayers and working in the world’s events and the leaders’ hearts to bring Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Israel to this point in time, which was the set time.
God had promised many years before that John the Baptist would be the forerunner of the Messiah. It was always God’s plan. God makes His plan come true by keeping the promises He makes. To keep His word to send His Son twice—once to redeem us and once to rule over us—is what God wants for the world and for our lives. God has already kept the first promise. Now we wait with expectation and eagerness for Christ to come back at the set time.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for always keeping Your word and showing up at your set time. Help me to always trust Your timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
