Luke 1:5 “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”
“Childlessness! What a curse! Lord, why us? What have we done, that I am unable to get pregnant?” Generally, Elizabeth was not the type to mope around feeling sorry for herself, but sometimes she couldn’t help grieving. Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, was one of the priests selected to serve in the big temple King Herod had built in Jerusalem. When Zechariah and Elizabeth had married, the wedding guests had pronounced the customary blessings on them; and both were sure that soon their house would be filled with the sound of childish laughter. But year succeeded year, and Elizabeth continued to have her monthly bleeding right on time. Oh, there was the one time she had been quite ill, and she went for an extra two weeks without menstruating, but as soon as she felt better, the blood began flowing and her hopes plummeted. Each time Elizabeth saw a baby, her arms ached to hold one of her very own. At this point, Elizabeth wasn’t even certain that she could still get pregnant. In one more year, Zechariah would have to reach the age at which he must stop serving at the temple, and Elizabeth’s menstrual periods had become highly irregular. For Zechariah and Elizabeth, it seemed there was no hope.
And then came the day when Zechariah came back from Jerusalem from serving in the temple, unable to speak. In writing and with gestures, Zechariah made Elizabeth understand that while he was ministering in the Holy of Holies, the Angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that they were to have a son. This son would be filled with the Holly Spirit even before he was born, and was to be the prophet foretold by Isaiah, the one who would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. The Angel was very specific about the manner in which this boy was to be raised and ordered them to name him John. When Zechariah expressed some doubts as to how this miracle might come about, the Angel caused Zechariah to be unable to speak until the baby was born. Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth did become pregnant, and when Mary the mother of Jesus visited her, the unborn baby leaped in Elizabeth’s womb as he was filled with the Holy Spirit, thus fulfilling the angelic prophecy.
Working in Africa for years, I have witnessed a number of strange rituals women have gone through to get pregnant. Sadly, in at least one case, a woman went to a fetish priest, seeking for a son and dedicated that poor unborn baby to the fetish in thanksgiving. We knew this poor man as an adult, and there was evidence of demons working in his life.
Perhaps today you can sympathize with Elizabeth. You have been married for years, but no children have come. Perhaps you have gone through infertility work – ups and have been told that there is no reason that you cannot get pregnant. Perhaps you have been told the chances of your getting pregnant are very small. Perhaps you have even been so unfortunate as to have an operation or chemotherapy treatment that has rendered you sterile. But the question that you must ask yourself is this: what does God want for my life? Years ago, we knew a couple who had been missionaries in Ghana for many years, ministering in villages and founding a Bible School that has since become a university. It was their everlasting sorrow that they themselves could not get pregnant; however, they served as father and mother to untold numbers of Ghanaian students, many of whom were orphans. Do not assume that just because you cannot get pregnant, God has not given you a father’s heart or a mother’s heart for those around you! There are many people whose parents have failed them through physical or emotional abuse, or because the parents themselves suffered from a problem such as debilitating chronic depression.
What we can learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth is that God is always a God of surprises, and that God honors faith. But we must be willing to allow God to make our choices for us and not to attempt to force Him to work the same way in our lives that He has in the lives of others. Look around you! Has God already put someone in your situation who needs your love, encouragement, and guidance?
PRAYER: Father God, today some of us are hurting. It is Christmas, a time for children, and once more our arms are empty. But you are a good Father, and it is your will for us that we share your love with those around us. Help us to stop focusing on our own problems and see those who need help. Thank you that while not all of us are called to get pregnant, we are all called to parent in some fashion. In the precious Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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