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In the first chapter of Luke, angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias to inform him that God heard his prayer for a child. Zacharias and his wife were most likely aware of the story of Abraham and Sarah, whom God blessed with a child at a very old age. So, Zacharias and his wife believed God for a child just like Abraham and Sarah did. However, Zacharias expressed unbelief when angel Gabriel informed him that God heard his prayer for a child and shared other wonderful things about God’s plan for the child. Angel Gabriel shut Zacharias’s mouth due to unbelief.  Luke 1:20 (NIV) says, “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 appointed time.”

God opened Zacharias’ mouth after his written words aligned with God’s Word concerning his child. Luke 1:63-64 (NIV) says, “Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God”

These events reveal the power of written and spoken words. We also learn that God cares about a child’s name.

Perhaps Zacharias’ mouth was shut so that his words would not negate what God wanted to accomplish through Zacharias' family. I believe shutting his mouth was not simply about punishing him for unbelief. It was God's mercy and grace at work, allowing him to reflect on his encounter to deal with his unbelief and most likely keep the vision a secret until it was appropriate. 

Zacharias saw an angel, yet he doubted. We often act like Zacharias— God speaks to us through His Word and sometimes confirms it through His ministers, yet we doubt God's Word. We claim to believe the Bible, but we worry and disobey God. 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him" Yet, we pray then speak or act like God did not hear us. God’s will for our lives is in the Bible, and we need to live with greater awareness of this truth. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:2-3 (NIV)

We need spiritual understanding (Ephesians 1:17-18) and our hearts must become good ground (Matthew 13:8) for the Word of God to be effective in our lives (Hebrews 4:2). Until then, we will continue to see God's Word as a self-help book or a book of suggestions.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. In the name of Jesus, help me to overcome unbelief (Mark 9:24) and let the eyes of my understanding be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18).