In biblical times, women were expected to become mothers, so when the Bible zooms in on a woman's life and discusses her pregnancy or the birth of her child, I believe we should sit up and take notice. This story we read today about a woman named Elizabeth is no different.
The only place in scripture we will read about the birth of John and his mother, Elizabeth, is in Luke 1. Here, Luke tells us that Elizabeth was “righteous in the sight of God, observed all the commands, and decreed blamelessly,” but she was barren.
In ancient Jewish times or bible times, for a woman to be barren or struggle with infertility, she would have been seen as sinful. This barrenness or infertility was seen by society as a sign of God's punishment for her and her family. She was thought to have sin in her life, or if not obvious sin, she was thought to have some secret wrongdoing, and yet Luke makes a point of declaring that this was not true in Elizabeth's life. She was “righteous”. I suppose the question we would first ask is how the two align. How can society see her as a sinner in her barrenness, but she also is righteous before God?
Elizabeth is a Hebrew name that means “God’s promise,” “God is my oath,” or “My God is Bountiful.” We will soon see how faithful God was to that meaning.
Elizabeth lived in the hill country of Judah and was a descendant of Aaron. She was married to Zechariah, but they had no children. Zechariah belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and his division had been called to serve in the temple at Jerusalem. While Zechariah was serving with his division at the temple of the Lord, he was chosen to go into the temple to burn incense by casting a lot, and there he was met by an angelic being. The angel of the Lord who visited him announced that his prayers had been answered, he was not to be afraid, and that he and Elizabeth would conceive a child. This child would be extremely special, and the angel instructed Zechariah about what would happen to him throughout his life. Important details that were not to be overlooked.
I don’t know if you have noticed, but almost every time an angel appears to a human in the Bible, they have to say, “Don’t be afraid?” I completely get that; I would be fearful also. Angels are not meek little cupids, as they have been painted out, but they are majestic.
Here in Jerusalem, Zechariah is performing his duty as a priest, and what seems to be out of nowhere comes an angel! I would have been frightened out of my wits, too. This angel tells him his prayer has been answered, and a child would be conceived. If you read the article on Zechariah, you will know we touched on this already. But in the hill country, sweet Elizabeth awaits her husband's return with no idea all this is happening. She is still barren, still scorned, still outcasted by society, and yet, at a distance from her own home, her husband is hearing how this will no longer be the case. How many prayers have you prayed, waiting and praying, and yet, around the corner, God is putting the answer to that very prayer into place? This is a humbling and grounding piece of scripture to me. God does not have to answer my prayers; He is Holy, Almighty, Majestic, and here I am, a created being, yet God thinks of me. As Psalm 8 says, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them?” yet God is mindful of us. Always working and always moving. And so, as if it was always to be, this old couple, long gone in years, are to conceive a child and will soon see a womb long closed be opened and a baby born.
Can you imagine for a second that I am Elizabeth, as her husband comes home unable to speak and tries to relay this information to her? It must have been the most joyous and, in the same breath, a surprising moment in her life. To know she had never been forgotten, she had never been a sinner as was thought, but rather she was loved and remembered by the Holy God she loved and served. What a moment!
I love Elizabeth's response to learning she is pregnant:
“The Lord has done this for me. In these days, he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Yet even though Elizabeth was saved and vindicated from the cultural turmoil, more was happening in the spiritual realm; the Lord had a greater purpose and planned to fulfill it. The Lord saved Elizabeth from society's scorn, but the same plan would see her son be a voice to help show society that they can be saved from sin. What we see in the physical realm barely touches what God is doing through us and for us in the spiritual realms.
We read a beautiful verse if we can rewind just a little in Luke to chapter 1:40. As Mary comes to see Elizabeth, Luke tells us:
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
What a marvelous moment between these two unexpectedly pregnant cousins. One cousin was long past childbearing age, and the other wasn’t in the right space relationally as an unwed woman, yet God used them both. No age limit or barrier exists in the kingdom; God will use whoever is willing.
So, what can we learn from Elizabeth?
The story of Elizabeth makes it clear that God is always listening to our prayers, even when it seems like these prayers will never be answered. I believe Elizabeth had long stopped asking for a son or daughter; that pang just became a hollow pain that lived in her empty womb. But to God, he could use that space to further His kingdom.
Elizabeth also teaches us that when our prayers are not answered as we hope, we should still follow God and live righteous and blameless lives, honoring God and following his commandments.
So maybe you are waiting for something this Christmas that doesn’t fit under the tree. Maybe you are waiting for God to move in your family, desperate to see Household salvation; maybe you are awaiting God to open your womb as He did for Elizabeth, for your ill or chronic health issues to be healed, for your finances to come from in the red to in the black! There are so many prayers we can pray to God, and some of us, like Elizabeth and Zechariah, have long stopped praying, but God heard those prayers, and they are, as Revelations 5v8 says, in golden bowls of incense, waiting for the right time for God to move or act.
So, friend, this Christmas, consider trusting God's timing, as frustrating as possible, and leaning on Him to do what is right at the right time.
Who Were the Characters of Christmas?
What the Wise Men Teach Us about Worship and Generosity
What Zechariah’s Story Teaches Us about God’s Perfect Timing
Why Elizabeth’s Story Is a Powerful Reminder of God’s Faithfulness
How King Herod’s Evil Plot Reveals a Deeper Spiritual Battle
Why the Shepherds’ Story Proves God Welcomes the Outcasts
What Mary Knew and Why It Matters to Your Faith This Christmas
Photo Credit: SWN Design
