Voiceless
Luke begins by telling us about Zechariah and Elizabeth—a man and woman who walked uprightly before the Lord and were said to be blameless. We discover Zechariah was serving in the temple one day, offering incense and prayers, when Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, appeared to him. Gabriel spoke of wonderful things in answer to Zechariah’s prayers regarding a son. However, Zechariah struggled to believe the report, challenging the news with facts and reason. Then Gabriel said to Zechariah the following,
Luke 1:19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
Zechariah’s doubt of the goodness of God promised to him and his wife cost him his voice until the time it would be fulfilled.
There is the powerful voice of faith, and then there is the horrifying silence of doubt in life. Doubt leads to losing one’s true voice and renders a person subject to seeing the fulfillment before they can speak about it. But it would be so much more powerful to have spoken of it in faith, and then it is fulfilled, and all are made to marvel even greater at the power of God to fulfill His word of promise.
Now, let’s contrast Zechariah with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Like Zecharias, the angel appears to her, and like Zecharias, she is initially troubled and intrigued by the greeting. Just as with Zecharias, a promise of a wonderful fulfillment of the word of the Lord is given to her that goes against all reason and factual understanding. Notice Mary’s response,
Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Afterward, Mary went to visit Elizabeth. The way Elizabeth greets her is astoundingly prophetic. Elizabeth recognizes Mary as the mother of her Lord.
Keep in mind that Mary has not had her baby yet, nor has Elizabeth, but look at what Mary is empowered to say in her heart.
Luke 1:46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. 50 and His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Mary’s faith in what the Lord spoke to her empowered her to give thanks prophetically and magnify the Lord according to His promise. Zechariah’s doubt kept him in silence until the manifestation occurred and broke it. Zechariah forfeited nine months of the ability to magnify the Lord and proclaim His goodness, all because he struggled with believing such a good report. Mary, on the other hand, was able to magnify the Lord and speak of His goodness even while she was being judged unjustly by others who misunderstood her condition.
Doubt seeks to render a follower of Christ voiceless until something manifests. God is still praised, but He is not magnified as powerfully as He would have been had the declaration of faith gone before it. I strongly encourage you today not to allow doubt to render you voiceless concerning the wonderful promises of God for your life. Believe and speak according to His promise and trust that the manifestation will come in its own good time.
