December 10: CHASTENING

The angel said to Zacharias, “And he [your son] will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” Luke 1:16-18

Now Zacharias knew the Scriptures well. He understood that Abraham had been miraculously blessed with the son of promise in his old age because he (Abraham) believed God to be faithful who had made the promise. But in a brief few moments Zacharias invited doubt to enter, for his focus had shifted over to human weakness. Pause, beloved, and examine your own focus and faith. Do you wholeheartedly believe in the power of God to carry out what He has promised?

And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” … when he came out, he could not speak to [the people]; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. Luke 1:19,20,22

Gabriel was sent directly from God. Clearly, he holds a very high position in the heavenly courts. Some six hundred years earlier, he helped Daniel gain understanding and clarity regarding the prophetic visions of the Lord’s first advent and the activities of the antichrist power. Now that the time was at hand for the birth of Christ, he delivered to Zacharias glad tidings of his own son’s arrival. Gabriel was soon to bring the message to the young virgin Mary that she would conceive and bear the Son of the Most High.

Following the encounter with Gabriel at the altar of incense, Zacharias endured being mute for nine-plus months. Gabriel, under God’s authority, brought this disciplinary action to Zacharias, who had allowed doubt to enter his mind. It was a hardship, to be sure, but one that built up his faith! As soon as he could speak again, he uttered the incredibly beautiful prophecy (see Luke 1:67-79) describing the role of his son, John the Baptist, as the forerunner to the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior at His first coming. This prophecy is descriptive of our role as believers in Jesus and as forerunners—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord—in light of His second advent.

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons… Hebrews 12:7a

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12