Anchor My Faith

Title: Zechariah’s Doubt and Punishment (Luke 1:18-20)

The angel has just told Zechariah what his son would do and now Zechariah asks the angel a question: “And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years”” (Luke 1:19 ESV). As Zechariah listens to the angel, he is probably thinking about his and Elizabeth’s age and is wondering how they are going to have a son so he questions the angel to learn more.

“And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news”” (Luke 1:19 ESV). The angel now identifies himself as Gabriel, which means “man of God.” This is the same angel that appeared to Daniel when he was praying (Daniel 9:21) and he appeared to Mary to tell her about a son she would have to be called Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). Gabriel has a close relationship with God as he stands in the presence of God, a place of honor and favor. Gabriel is thus an angel of surpassing faithfulness, holiness, and responsibility. God calls Gabriel and says, “Gabriel, I have a message I want you to take to Zechariah.” God is beginning to put things into motion. He first needs to get John in place as a forerunner. The good news he brings is about John and what he will do for God.

The question that Zechariah asks seems to be a reasonable question, but it may indicate some disbelief, as we shall now see. “And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time” (Luke 1:20 ESV). It appears that Gabriel did not like Zechariah’s lack of faith that was reflected in his question. Instead of believing the angel and understanding that God is a God of the impossible, Zechariah focuses on his age and physical inability and allows doubt to hinder his faith. For this doubt he is to be punished by being unable to speak until the day the message brought by Gabriel is fulfilled.

The message that Gabriel brought had a time associated with it. God had already determined when John would be conceived and born, just as is the time of Mary giving birth to Jesus. God has these events and many others all scheduled out to occur at a precise time. We will see that precision again and again during our study of the gospels.

Prayer

Father, as I prepared this lesson I am struck by the negative impact that results from questioning your word. Zechariah suffered the loss of ability to speak as a result of his questioning from a lack of faith. Father, I wonder how much loss we are suffering because of our lack of belief in or disobedience to your word. The lukewarm state of the western church may well be evidence of that unbelief. How you treated Zechariah gives us a powerful warning that we need to take seriously.