Elizabeth – Joyfully Filled

​Elizabeth cherished her family’s heritage. A true PK [Priest’s Kid] if you’ve ever seen one. She was a descendant of Aaron’s daughters. Yes, THAT Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel. She married Zacharias, a priest, and had hoped to raise sons who would follow in their father’s footsteps to serve in the Temple.

She understood that a firstborn son was holy to God and she would gladly raise a son to serve Him. For years she had waited for her firstborn. Every month she prayed for the signs of a new life beginning inside her. That day never came.

No precious babe filled Elizabeth’s arms. Instead, ugly words pervaded her thoughts, defining her physical condition. Infertile. Barren. Devoid of a fruitful womb. A stigma for any properly married woman. Oh, the questions that arise when no offspring blesses a husband and wife.

Elizabeth knew if she was to say strong for Zacharias and true to her Lord she must concentrate her energies on maintaining a hospitable home and loving her husband well. She determined in her heart to live a grateful life, holy and acceptable to the Lord. She recalled the testimony of Job, that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. In all of it, His name is to be blessed. Her hope breathed life into the prayers she continued to pray.

Elizabeth welcomed Zacharias home from his time at the Temple, but he didn’t call out his accustomed reply to her greeting. It took some time and patience for Elizabeth to understand the signs and writing Zacharias employed to convey the marvels that had transpired in The Holy Place. His prayer before the Lord. The Angel Gabriel saying that God had heard his prayer. Gabriel’s humbling reprimand resulting in Zacharias’ doubting voice to be silenced until the promised son was born to them.

What a wonder! What a great God they served!

Elizabeth’s heart was skipping like a lamb with anticipation. Were these just empty words her husband gave her? At her age, could it be true that there was still hope for a child? One by one she recalled women of the faith, once barren like her, then blessed by the Lord to bear the next generation. Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Manoah’s wife. Fruitless vines given new life by God.

If He could do it for them could He not do it for her as well?

In this new chapter of their marriage, God didn’t ask Elizabeth and Zacharias to do a new thing. He simply gave them a promise in which they must act out their trust and the call to obey His Word. Through their obedience they would see the fruit of His promise.

“After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 ‘This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked {with favor} upon {me,} to take away my disgrace among men.’” Luke 1:24-25 (NASB)

Prayer is not something God always answers at first.

It IS something He will answer at last. According to His purpose, for His pleasure.

For His glory.

“Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.” Luke 1:57-58 (NASB)

Barrenness is just another setting to see the fullness of God’s glory and Presence. God seeks to make a home in our empty places. He has promised those who love Him to be with them, always. Our Emmanuel.

We will either invite Him into our hollowness and hurt, or bar the door to maintain a safe distance from the unknown He will bring.

Our faithful response is found in the faithfulness of God. He is our reward. His mercy and grace humble us enough to receive His goodness.
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And we will find, as Elizabeth did, that Joy is the companion of a hopeful heart.

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