2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Numbers 19:1-20:29 ESV, Luke 1:1-25 ESV, Psalm 56:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 11:8 ESV
Daily Verse: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”(Luke 1:25 ESV)
ONEIDOS (3681): “Akin to base of 3686; notoriety, i.e., a taunt (disgrace).”[I]
Divine intervention.
God’s plan never fails to surprise me. Elizabeth and Zechariah, an elderly couple with no children, led a blameless life. Because Elizabeth didn’t give her husband children, she endured disgrace. Culturally at the time, A wife’s duty first and foremost, bear children to carry on the family name and help provide for the family. I envision a non-descript elderly couple quietly living under the radar, not drawing attention to themselves.
But then Elizabeth becomes pregnant far past childbearing age. All of the taunts she endured now ended as she grew larger each month. Meanwhile, Zechariah’s lack of belief caused God to silence him during the pregnancy, his ability to speak restored eight days after Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist.
Keep becoming.
Even though Elizabeth and Zechariah endured reproach, they didn’t let it stop them serving God. The couple trusted God’s plan for their lives, even if it meant no children. Decade after decade slipped by with no indication things would change, yet Elizabeth and Zechariah persevered; as a result, they became infamous for their role in the gospel story.
Persevering in the face of adversity challenges everyone. Long periods passed before God moved in Elizabeth and Zechariah’s life. Monotonous days can challenge our faith. When praying seems ineffective, and nothing seems to change we can doubt the Creator. But we must remember, Noah didn’t build the ark in a day. Life happens over time, not all at once, but it can change in a heartbeat.
We never know when God will move in our lives, but we do know He will. In an instant, Elizabeth went from barren to pregnant, her entire life changing forever. No one knows what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds it. Trusting God will unfold His plan takes faith, somedays more than others. But we can trust. God will move in your circumstances; He does know your story. When and where only the Maker knows, God calls us to trust until then.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 179) Thomas Nelson
