Gift, Then Travel vs. Travel, Then a Reward
During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron.
They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were ‘righteous in the sign of God’ and followed all of the commandments and ordinances. These folks were ‘living right.’
Just like today, 1 century Jewish culture liked to think that if you were living to please God, that God would give you rewards and ‘blessings.’ You hit all the green lights on the way to work, you get to the meeting late but your 3 minutes ahead of your boss, whatever. It’s easy to fall into the trap that our circumstances are related to the way we follow some rules.
From Abraham to Paul, God doesn’t credit righteousness to folks because of their obedience to the Law, but from their faith. It’s fitting, though, that because of their faith, they obey God’s Law. That’s how people expressed their faith before the Holy Spirit was sent on Pentecost. (Also see the entire book of James and Romans ;))
The fact that they didn’t have a child was just a slap in the face to their hope for righteousness from God. All over scripture children are a blessing and a present from God. And as Zechariah and Elizabeth age, of course they would be asking questions like “Don’t you love us, God?!”
Just like Abram and Sarai, their old age is going to play in to the miracle of their child. Just like Abram and Sarai, they are going to have an unexpected child that is really going to change the world. Just like Abram and Sarai, they are going to be stunned to find out that their child is still to come.
But they didn’t know that yet.
They were faithful and followed the Lord in spite of never (so far) receiving the sign of their blessing. They did not grow in bitterness because of their lack of evidence from God, but they grew in their faithfulness.
One of my favorite quotes from my favorite book is about staying faithful even when you don’t see God cheering you on:
“Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do [God’s] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.”
― C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
That was exactly what Jesus did during His second finest hour. (The finest was 3 days later!)
Christ shines the most when we don’t obey Him to get the righteousness, but see that He’s already given it, and we live for Him in response.
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