Bread Crumbs – Devotions for Life

Speechless

Luke 1:18-23

Zacharias asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.” 

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zacharias and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.  When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. (NIV)

Periodically someone will text, call, or email me with unbelievable news about an engagement, multiple births, a sports victory, a special deal, etc.  I often find myself saying, “Get-out!  You’re kidding!  I don’t believe it!  I won’t believe it until I see it!  I heard that before!”

Frequently I learn my friend was telling the truth, as I would expect, but … … …! You never know when someone is pulling your leg.

On one hand it would be easy to criticize Zacharias for not believing Gabriel when he told him that he and Elizabeth, in their Medicare years, were going to give birth to a son.  Much less, that this son would be such an important servant of the Lord, that he would be a prophet to prepare the way for the Messiah.

I would have been so shocked, I would have been too speechless to argue with Gabriel.

Zacharias wanted to believe Gabriel, but he found the message too inconceivable, so he asked for a sign.  The sign was speechlessness for 9+ months.  

Here was a man who had just been given incredible personal and universal news that God was preparing to do something wonderful for the world and God left him speechless.  It would kill me to be unable to tell the world what God was doing.  

But, when Zacharias exited the Temple after a long time in prayer and when he was speechless, the people waiting for him knew something happened inside.  The people were buzzing with excitement and anticipation.  

We know God has plans to redeem the world when Jesus returns.  We just don’t know when.  

Like Zacharias, let us worship and pray while we wait.  Maybe God will leave you speechless one day when you leave His holy presence and Good News will abound.

Prayer:  Faithful Father, Zacharias went to do his duty even when he had lost all hope for a child.  Then you in your marvelous grace spoke to him, fulfilled his dreams, and ours.  You left him speechless.  Lord, may I be so faithful in my prayer and worship that one day you will leave me speechless and full of Good News.  Amen.