The story we were discussing was about Zechariah and Elizabeth, a Jewish couple who lived in the 1st-Century; Luke politely described them as “well along in years.” The Bible also says they were childless.
One day Zechariah was selected from a list of 20,000 priests to offer incense in the Holy of Holies; a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was such serious work they tied a rope around a priest’s ankle so his body could be pulled back out if God struck him dead. (So much for job security!)
According to the story, Zechariah saw an angel beside the altar while he was worshiping, and he was paralyzed by fear. The sudden appearance of anyone in the Holy of Holies would have been a shock, even more so the appearance of an angel. Who knew if seeing an angel was the first step toward being drug out by that rope?
The angel, no less than Gabriel himself, told Zechariah his prayers had been answered: he and Elizabeth would have a son named John who would lead the way for the Messiah.
Zechariah then did something which seems reasonable to me, he asked: “How can I be sure?” The angel answered with an unmistakable sign from God - he struck Zechariah speechless. Zechariah was physically unable to utter a word until the baby John was born nine months later.
I wrote in the margin of my Bible: “This seems harsh; surely he was allowed one question. Moses argued in front of a burning bush and nothing happened to him.”
Well, in class we talked about this for a long time: Why Zechariah get into trouble over one question? Some thought maybe he’d actually stopped praying long ago and given up hope for a baby. Others thought he wasn’t so much in trouble as it was he received an unmistakable sign from God that confirmed all the other prophecy about his son, John. Some thought the nine months of silence might not be punishment, but a gift of solitude, time to ponder his good fortune and learn to be at peace with God.
For Zechariah and Elizabeth, well along in years and childless and, according to Luke, “upright in the sight of God,” it must have seemed like they’d missed their turn. I’m sure all their peers had babies, and even grandbabies, but they didn’t have anyone. And they’d diligently lived their lives to honor God; the text says “observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.” I’m sure they prayed and prayed for years, day after day, for a baby, for a family.
It’s hard to know when to stop praying for something that hasn’t happened. To stop praying feels like a lack of faith, but to keep praying year after year seems pointless and maybe even irritates the very God you are trying to serve.
They might’ve given up hope for an answer long before they actually stopped praying – too hopeless to keep believing, but too God-fearing to stop praying. I can imagine all this because I’ve been in the same place – praying day after day, month after month, with no indication that God was listening, no sign from Gabriel, and no hope. Zechariah and Elizabeth must have been beyond hope; they’d missed their turn at happiness and all they had to look forward to was living out their lives alone.
It’s hard to watch other people, who don’t seem all that “upright in the sight of God,” get all the cool things. Why do they have success and new houses and brilliant kids and perfect pets when we are the ones praying every day? We wonder – when will it be our turn? When will the good stuff happen for us?”
The story of Zechariah reminded me of the little boy named Billy in the great Christmas movie, Polar Express, who simply said, “Christmas just doesn’t work out for me.” After a lifetime of poverty and lost dreams, it was easier for Billy to decide it would never be good than to keep on hoping. Maybe Zechariah and Elizabeth decided “family just doesn’t work out for us.” It would be easier than maintaining lost hope.
But that isn’t how the story ended. Not only did God answer the priestly prayer for the redemption of Israel, he answered their personal prayer for a son. God promised to save the world, and bless one small family, all at the same time.
Now I think Zechariah wasn’t being punished for asking his question or for his lack of faith. He was given nine months of silence as a gift - plenty of time to hear God say, “I love you. This is for you.”
