In completing several Advent studies, I am inspired by Elizabeth and Zechariah’s character. I used to take their story for what it was without any profound questions or thoughts. But this year, it seems wrong of me not to reflect on God’s intentionality in their lives. By discovering who they were as individuals, as servants of the Lord, I see why Elizabeth and Zechariah were instrumental to Jesus’s birth. Their obedience to God set them apart for greater things.
Luke 1:6 introduces Elizabeth and Zechariah as “both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord” (ESV). They obeyed the Lord, honoring and keeping his commandments. Yet Elizabeth was barren and both Zechariah and she were of old age (v. 7). These two factors would essentially make it impossible for them to conceive. Her barrenness wasn’t a consequence for sin; Elizabeth remained obedient to God regardless of what her life looked like. Commentaries state that, in this culture, not having a child was shameful. And because Elizabeth and Zechariah were without a child, they had nobody to support them in their old age. Many married couples who could not conceive would divorce, so the man could have children to take care of him as he got older. But Zechariah stayed with Elizabeth, and together, they trusted the Lord.
Elizabeth and Zechariah were blessed, not because of their circumstances, but simply because they obeyed the Lord. He became their strength and He set them apart for a specific mission.
1. Obedience doesn’t always get us what we want. It postures us to receive from God as he sees fit.
God didn’t give them the chlid they wanted yet because he had another plan. The angel Gabriel speaks to Zechariah, confirming that Elizabeth would have a son, John, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit and prepare a way for Jesus (v. 13-17). John was a miracle. Not just for the conditions in which he was birthed, but for this amazing calling on his life.
If John came at any earlier time, Elizabeth and Zechariah wouldn’t have seen the work of God as majestically as they did. Theirs would just be another story of God blessing an obedient, young couple with a child. They would see God work in the ways they would expect, not in the ways that God can work. They could have even missed the miracle altogether.
But this opportunity gave another way for the world to see God’s glory and power.
If John was born at any other time, he might not have been the right messenger to prepare a way for Jesus. Maybe he wouldn’t have lept in his mother’s womb when in the presence of Jesus, also in the womb (v. 41). Maybe Elizabeth wouldn’t have been able to encourage or bless Mary in the way that she did when they were both pregnant.
But because Elizabeth and Zechariah kept the Lord’s commandments, because they trusted his timing, John and they were used in an incredible way. The impact of their obedience extended so far beyond themselves.
2. Obedience to God is surrendering my timeline in exchange for the perfect assignment he has for me.
God was intentional in using Elizabeth and Zechariah to show his glory. He was getting the world ready for Jesus! And John was the person he chose to get people’s hearts ready for heaven coming down. The lyric “let every heart prepare him room” rings loudly. Because God is a God of miracles, we can truly sing “Joy to the World!”
Elizabeth and Zechariah were blessed with their son John. God knew that John’s parents would raise him in the Lord because they were obedient to Him. He chose them. And God would bless Elizabeth, even in her old age. Luke 1:41 says “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (ESV). Elizabeth didn’t need a grand annoucement to know that Mary and unborn Jesus were blessed; the Holy Spirit filled her and her baby to leap with joy in the womb when Jesus was near!
Elizabeth had the blessings of having her child, despite being barren, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Her son was chosen to prepare the world for the Son of God coming to Earth! Regardless of how long she waited for a child, she never stopped trusting or obeying God. He didn’t allow Elizabeth to live an ordinary life because he set her and Zechariah apart for a distinct assignment.
3. Obedience to God is a choice and a blessing.
I’m not going to rush the season I’m in. I’m not going to force what I want to happen if God has something better. God has a purpose for me, right here and now. I trust his timing. I trust that he is working and he has a specific assignment for me. And when I receive it, I’ll be ready. I might not be on the timeline I expected, but my desires are trivial in comparison to eternity.
God knows what’s best. He doesn’t always give us what we want because he knows what we truly need. And that’s the miracle. He knows the best things for us and for others. We can give him glory and advance his kingdom by displaying the wonderful works he does.
Being obedient is a big responsibility, but it comes with a great reward: a deeper relationship with God himself. And like Elizabeth and Zechariah, I choose to obey God, even when circumstances are unfavorable, because I delight in my relationship with him above anything else.
Recommended Advent Studies:
“Our Hope Has Come” – LifeWay Women
“Pointing to the Promise” – Proverbs 31 Ministries
“Advent: The Journey to Christmas” – Church of the Highlands (YouVersion plan)
“Names of Jesus for Advent” – Peter Muddle, Bible Society of Australia (YouVersion plan)
“Peace on Earth: A 5-Day Advent Devotional” – LifeWay (YouVersion plan)
Consider the Joy 
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