And when his time of service was ended, he [Zechariah] went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, "Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people." (Luke 1:23-25)
Zechariah must have told his wife what happened when he got home. Oh, not by speech—the angel-promised muteness was already upon him. By writing, probably. However it happened, Elizabeth knew she was carrying a baby almost as soon as it happened—long before the most obvious signs of pregnancy came upon her—and she hid herself. She stayed at home as much as possible and didn't socialize or go out on her normal routine. Why?
Certainly she had a lot to think about. Her life was being turned upside down. Never again would she be pitied for wanting a child and having none. Instead, the too-quiet house would ring to the sounds of a baby's cry, and later to the noise of a little boy running in and out. She herself would be in for a ton of work. Babies aren't easy!
But that probably wasn't the main thing on her mind. God had said that her son would be the one to prepare the way for the Lord. That could mean nothing else but that the Messiah was coming—that God was about to redeem His people from the power of evil, as He promised so many, many years ago. What a wonderful thing! And Elizabeth's baby would be part of it.
There's no hiding a pregnancy when it gets far enough along. And there's no hiding God's work, either, when it comes to the point of birth. But quiet times are normal, and it's okay to step back and let God do whatever He's doing with you in quiet, out of sight—until the day He makes it public.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, do what You want to do with me, whether it's in quiet or in public. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Tell about an event that turned your life upside down.
* Would you say your life is mostly quiet, or mostly public?
* When you are waiting for the Lord to do His work, what kinds of things do you do?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Zechariah 9-10 Revelation 1
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