Every Longing HeartSample

A Terrifying Angel and a Dumb Response

Zacharias couldn’t believe his ears when the lot was cast, and it landed on him. As a priest, he had performed thousands of animal sacrifices, but he had never had the honor of offering incense in the Holy Place. Zacharias took a deep breath as he stepped inside the hallowed chamber.

The little flame he carried cast shadows around the room. To his right, he saw the table of showbread, to his left, the golden lampstand, and in front of him was the altar of incense. He lit the sweet-smelling incense at the altar and bowed his head to pray. When he opened his eyes, he saw him out of the corner of his eye.

Standing in the shadows loomed the most majestic and terrifying being he’d ever seen. It was the angel, Gabriel.

Even though the sight of Gabriel was terrifying, the angel assured Zacharias not to be afraid and that he had the most astounding news. Zacharias and Elizabeth’s prayers for a son would soon be answered, and this child would be great in the sight of the Lord. This long-prayed-for child would be the forerunner to the Messiah.

The only problem was that Zacharias and Elizabeth were well past childbearing age. So Zacharias asked Gabriel, “How could this be?” The angelic messenger responded, “I am Gabriel, and I stand in the presence of God.” In other words, is not the very sight of me enough for you to believe, Zacharias?

Surely, Zacharias knew God could answer his prayers, but to protect his expectations, he had concluded that he wouldn’t.

Because of his disbelief, Gabriel made Zacharias dumb. He couldn't hear or speak. But isn’t all unbelief dumb? When we don't believe what’s been revealed in God’s word, we also display spiritual dumbness.

Even though Zacharias initially responded in doubt, his “time out” helped him see things clearly. When his tongue was finally loosened, his lips overflowed with praise. With his recovered speech, he used his lips to bless God instead of expressing doubt.

For decades, Zacharias and Elizabeth thought God had answered the longing of their hearts with the answer ‘no,’ but in it had only been a ‘not yet.’ Keep praying, keep believing, and keep obeying! You never know what God may be doing with your yet-to-be-answered prayers.

• Where am I disbelieving what God’s revealed in his Word?
• What prayer requests am I tempted to give up on?
• How can I model Zacharias and Elizabeth’s (imperfect) faithfulness to keep believing when I’m tempted to give up?