Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was He who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
Luke 1:18-20
Zech was the author of his own demise. He alone was responsible for his own bad news. Note also the involvement of angels in these parallel stories and the graded responses of various participants in both stories. Luke builds the story around the various reactions to each story. It’s significant, take time to look at the detail.
In this part of the story, Zech is confronted by an angel, the captain of all the angels, the arch angel Gabriel no less. If any angel should visit you with a message you can be sure it is a message that comes straight from God the Father. But if Gabriel should come then you can know with assuredness that what you are about to hear is the “gospel” truth. Isn’t it interesting how we used that word “gospel” to mean you could bank on it, it was truth. But now we don’t believe the gospels. How far we have fallen!
Zech’s questioning is evidence of doubt. He comes up with two pretty strong bits of proof (from his point of view) as to how his version must be the right one. I am old now and Elizabeth can’t have kids anymore. It over. We have passed the time when our chance for a kid was even possible. Don’t give me this stuff.
- The angel says, I am Gabriel (inference, the chief of all angels).
- I stand in the presence of God, God sent me.
- What I tell you is as good as God telling you.
- What I tell you will happen, it will be just like I said.
- But because you didn’t believe here is the proof – you are not going to able to speak until the baby is born.
- You won’t be able to tell anyone you met me/God.
Note the two “I am” sayings – Zech says “I am an old man”.
Gabriel says “I am Gabriel”, with all that infers.
How much our unbelief gets us into trouble just like Zechariah. Our unbelief is often the reason for the blessing of God being blocked.
Ian Vail
Life is at it’s weakest when there is more doubt than trust. Life is strongest, when one learns to trust despite all the doubts!
Rick Godwin
Your choices are far more powerful than your circumstances.
Rick Warren
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.
Jussar Badudu
A faith that hasn’t been tested, can’t be trusted.
Anon