| OCR Text |
Show It had been silent for 400 hundred years since the prophet Malachi. God started the first conversation in Genesis 1 when He said, "Let there be light." (Genesis 1: 3) He talked to the crown of His creation about everything from the names of every animal to the salvation of his soul. He spoke in various manners to various people for various purposes. (Hebrews 1: 1) But for 400 years God has been silent. Not a word from Him for man. Not a word about pain or the relief, about burdens or the carrying thereof, about hopes and dreams, about faults and failures, about the past, the present or the 1 future, about joys or tears, not a word about anything for 146,000 days. No intimacy, no comfort, no guidance, no directions, no accountability, no phone calls, no letters, no e-mails, no tweets, nothing. Where is God and can He hear? Does He care and will He act? He did talk for some 2000 years but from the close of the Old Testament He has not said a word to His people for some 400 years. Imagine crying out to God for 33 plus months and no response. Then, the first word out of the mouth of God is that a barren woman and an old man would have a male child. Elisabeth and Zacharias had been praying for years and they have grown old waiting for an answer. Zacharias was doing what he was suppose to do as a priest, chosen by 2 lot to offer the burning of incense in the temple for the sins of the people. There on the right side of the altar was the angel named Gabriel with the answer to their prayers, with a word from the Lord after 400 years of silence. Gabriel talked with Zacharias on behalf of God but Zacharias did not believe what he was hearing. Zacharias was shocked and startled. Gabriel tried his best to calm Zacharias down by telling him seven things: their prayers had been heard, and that the son they would have would be named "John" ' and that the people would be filled with gladness and joy when John was born, and that many people would turn to God because of him, 3 and that he would tum the fathers hearts to their children, and that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother' s womb, and that he would be the forerunner preparing the way for the Lord's Christ. Like so many ofus, John had not heard from God in such a long time and this word was so strange that he was wanted to know "How can this thing be?" and "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advance d in years. " (Luke 1: 18) The angel tried one more time by identifying himself as "Gabriel who stands in the presence of God... sent to speak... and bring... these glad tidings. " (Luke 1: 19) Because Zacharias was still not sure and did not believe, Gabriel said one more 4 thing to him, "You will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place... my words will be fulfilled in their own time. " (Luke 1: 20) Can I remind you that God's time is not our time and God's ways are not our ways. Yet, "with God nothing shall be impossible. " John's wife Elisabeth became pregnant and did not go outside for five months. Finally when the time was come to give birth, Elisabeth had a boy. The neighbors and relatives heard the news and wanted to name him Zacharias like his father's name. Elisabeth said no, name him John. Then they asked Zacharias and he wrote on a writing tablet, "His name is John." (Luke 1: 63) "Immediately Zacharias could talk 5 again, and he began praising God." (Luke 1: 64) When we hear the Word of God and do what He says do, we will be able to talk and be His witness. 6 |
