God's Plan and Timing-3/24/2015

                                                                GODS TIMING AND PLAN

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. Hiswife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

8So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13But 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. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20But 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.”

Why did God shut the mouth of Zacharias ?

Luke 1:13-15

                The angel of the Lord Gabriel showed up to Zacharias saying “Your prayers have been heard and Elizabeth  will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. V 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. V 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.

But Zacharias questions the messanger angel of the Lord saying “How shall I know this ? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

No.1

                Zacharias and Elizabeth had obviously been praying for a child

It is mentioned in their introduction in verse 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

No.2

                Zacharias goes to the temple of the Lord to worship and minister before the Lord becuase he is a priest.  He is of the tribe of Levi.  The tribe set apart to be close to God and His presence and to minister to the Lord on behalf of the children of Israel.

                He is there worshiping God and going about his priestly duties and then all of a sudden God decieds to show up by sending His messanger the angel Gabriel. 

                God is sending him there to give Zacharias great news that his prayer has been heard and the great things that his son will do for God.

               

13But 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. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zacharias’ reaction

                The only thing in that moment that Zacharias can think about and say is “How shall I know this ? For I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years.” 

                How shall I know this ?!

We all might be thinking Zacharias how shall you know this ?!  I don’t know a good start might this is what you have been praying for and now God has sent the angel of the Lord Gabriel to tell you that your prayer has been heard.

Well God instead remains calm and the angel Gabriel answers Zacharias with how he will know this:

                V19 And the angel answered and said to him; “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God,  and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. V 20 But behold, you will be mute and not be 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.”

So to answer the question of why the angel Gabriel had to make Zacharias mute until these things came to pass:

                God could not and would not take the chance that Zacharias’ attitude and lack of faith that would he and Elizabeth had prayed for would get in the way of what He had planned.  See this was so much bigger than just bringing Zacharias and Elizabeth a son, but who he was to become in God’s plan.

God would not take the chance that Zacharias unbelief would cause problems with the pregnancy and that he would speak the doubt and unbelief so much that it would effect John’s outcome.