And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. (Luke 1:62-64)
Do you notice that Zechariah is still mute for the first week of John's life? I would have expected it to end when John was born, but God had other plans. So Zechariah counted John's fingers and toes in silence—watched quietly while his wife learned to nurse the baby—and learned to comfort a crying baby with touch alone. Did Zechariah wonder if God had forgotten him?
But then the day of John's circumcision came, and Zechariah had the chance to do as the angel had promised: he named his son John. And God gave him back his speech.
Why then, exactly? We may guess, but we don't know. To fulfill the words of the angel in every detail? Maybe. To give Zechariah a chance to write faithfully, after his faithless speech nine months before? Who knows?
But to Zechariah, I doubt it mattered. He had his wife and baby—he had his speech back—and he had the full assurance of God's forgiveness and love, which had truly never left him. No wonder he used his new speech to praise God!
We too may experience difficult, painful times, and we may wonder if God has forgotten us. He has not. Even then He is working in us for our good, and we too will know the fullness of God's love and forgiveness—given to us for all time in Jesus, who died and rose to make us God's own.
WE PRAY: Be with me, Lord, when I sit in silence and darkness. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* When has God felt far away to you?
* How did you get through that time?
* How do you trust in the Lord during suffering?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 81-83 Revelation 8
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