It doesn’t matter how dark or how difficult life is …
“In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.” (Luke 1: 5-7)
In the time of “evil” (Herod) there was a man named “Jehovah has remembered” (Zechariah) who belonged to the priestly division called ‘worshipper of Jehovah’ (Abijah). His wife was called ‘the absolutely reliable one’ or ‘God is my promise’ (Elizabeth). Like her husband she too traced her priestly ancestry but all the way back to the founder of the Israelite priesthood.
So let’s do this again:-
In the time of a murderer of 2 of his sons, nearly all his wives and his father in law there lived a couple who believed that God remembers His promises.
Are you seeing this? Let me try again:-
In the time of one of the most wicked, self-absorbed, ambitious, and jealous (even to the point of massacring innocent children) rulers there lived a couple who had built their whole life on worship. The foundation of their family tree was one of praise and sacrifice. Their family stories were that of hosting the presence of God within the Holy of Holies, where hurts and offences against each other were sins against God and the liturgy constantly worked towards reconciliation and forgiveness.
It matters not how dark the world can get nor who rules the land we live in. In the midst of fear from the threats of man and the lies and manipulation of selfish people there can live lights shining bright, waiting and available to the story of God. Faithful names holding on to a much more faithful God. People of God who hold worship as the foundation of their life.
But to do it when it seems like God has not responded the way you had hoped is even more special.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful, obedient and people who followed God’s ways. They were righteous but the desires of their heart were not being met.
Deuteronomy 7: 14 “You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor any of your livestock without young.”
People took this further and said if an individual was barren it actually showed the disfavour of God.
When you have Bible promises but also people using the Bible to discourage you further, how do you survive?
This couple were both very old and they had accepted things as they were, Elizabeth was unable to conceive and they didn’t know why. They lived in a tough time and their life was tough. So how did they survive? They did so by worship and trust. There is no indication that they walked away from God at all. Can you be trusted to carry a heartache? Will you trust in the tough times.
The true assessment of character only happens when there is lack. Trust is born in lack.
Missions Paul 