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Luke 1:59-66
It would have been common for the baby boy to be named after his father given the miraculous circumstances in which the baby was conceived (in old age) and being their first child. However, the angel of the Lord had instructed Zacharias to name the child John as recorded in Luke 1:13 (NKJV), “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”
Once the child had been born and the message that the angel Gabriel delivered to Zacharias had been fulfilled, Zacharias was able to speak. In Luke 1:20 the angel Gabriel had stated, “But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
One other note that is believed by many of the scholars is that Zacharias, along with being mute (unable to speak) was also deaf (unable to hear). Luke 1:62 states, “So they made signs to his father – what he would have him called.” If the people were required to “make signs” to Zacharias, then it would be realistic in thinking that he could not hear.
This is an example of a promise of the Lord being fulfilled.
This is an example of how we learn to have, keep, and grow our faith and trust in the Lord.
Zacharias was not told of how long he would be mute, and possibly deaf as well, except that the angel of the Lord had stated, “until the day these things take place” (Luke 1:20a). These things took place because Zacharias did not wholeheartedly trust in the message delivered to him by the angel Gabriel, who was sent by God Himself.
Try to imagine, if you can, what it would be like to be deaf and mute for about 9 months (and not even being sure if that’s when it would end), which is the time of a normal pregnancy and hopefully for Zacharias, “the day these things take place” (Luke 1:20a). This would give you plenty of “quiet” time to ponder over the choices you have made throughout your life, and especially the choices that have gotten you into your current situation.
God allows us to sometimes get into situations in which we have no control. This is how we learn to put and keep our trust/faith in God to see us through whatever the situation may be. Many times, we try in vain to take care of the situation ourselves while holding a “deaf” ear to what God is speaking to our hearts, only to find that we are at a loss of how to remedy the situation. God is always there waiting to hear from us. Most of the time we do not ask of God until we have exhausted all other means of dealing with the issue, and sometimes, not even then.
Taking our needs and concerns to God in prayer should be our number one means of dealing with any situation whether good or bad; we should begin each day with a time of prayer to God in seeking His guidance for whatever may come our way; we should strive to keep our focus on Him always, and He will give us the guidance that we need. And then, when He gives us guidance, we must be obedient to Him and follow His plan which is greater than our plan.
Dear Lord,
We are a proud people, and we desire to take care of ourselves. Help us to see that You are in ultimate control even though You have given us a mind and heart to make our own choices. You are love, and You have given us Your love in Your Son Jesus, whom You sent because of Your love for us, that if we will believe in Him; if we will choose freely of our own heart and mind to trust and put our faith in Him; if we will accept this great love that You have sent to us to save us from sin, You will forgive us of our sins and make us a child of God. We can only put off the ways of the sinful nature, which dwells in all of us, and put on the new life in Christ Jesus if we will answer Your call to our heart and say “yes” to Jesus. Please let it be so LORD in all our lives – In Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.