The Woman of Promise Pt. 4

This week we wrap up our study with Elizabeth, cousin of Mary and mother of John.  A woman of great faith and courage, she received her blessing from God with a grateful heart.

Do we notice all of our blessings?  Do we express our gratitude to God for all He gives us, especially those things we thought we could never have?

As you read her story this week, ponder your own blessings and let your heart be filled with gratitude to our God who gives so generously.

The Woman of Promise

A Story of Elizabeth

Elizabeth means “God’s promise.”  This is a fitting name for this woman, as she was a part of the fulfillment of a promise God made to the people of Israel…that He would send a Messiah who would be a bridge to God himself, and whose act of sacrifice would give unending redemption to the people of this world.

THREE EPISODES TO THE STORY OF ELIZABETH:

1)      Elizabeth becomes pregnant (Luke 1:5-25)

Here we are with yet another barren woman past the prime of childbearing.  Both she and her husband, Zechariah, were from a long line of priests.  In those days, her barrenness was not just a sad situation, it was a disgrace.

 At this particular time, Zechariah was chosen among about 8,000 priests to be the one to enter the Temple and offer incense as part of the daily Temple worship.  What an honor that was!  It was during one afternoon of him performing these duties that an angel appeared in front of him.  This angel told Zechariah that Elizabeth would have a son.  This angel was very specific in the characteristics this child would have:

1. He would be great in the sight of God

2. He would drink no wine and live the life of a Nazarene, which would set him apart from others

3. He would be filled with the Spirit from the moment of conception

4. He would prepare for the Messiah and be the catalyst between Israel and God

Do you think Zechariah believed this angel at first?  Of course not!  He was made deaf and mute, which startled everyone when he left the temple.  Elizabeth did become pregnant, and she stayed home in seclusion.

This was a miraculous time in the life of Elizabeth.  God granted her a heart’s desire.  Has there been a time in your life when God has granted you something that you thought would be impossible for you to attain?

2)      Mary visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:57-66)

We all know the situation Mary was in…pregnant, engaged to a man who was not the father, and ridiculed.  Her visit to Elizabeth was an effort to get her away from the madness of what was going on around her until a solution could be found. 

 When the two women came face to face, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb responded by kicking and moving.  She was about 28 weeks along at this time.  She took this to mean that the angel had been correct in saying that her child would be filled with the Spirit from the moment of conception, and she saw Mary as the mother of the expected and long-awaited Messiah.  She spoke this blessing over Mary:

         “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?  For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.  And blessed is she who believes that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Although it is not specifically spoken, it is assumed that given the timing of the incident, that Mary was present when Elizabeth gave birth to John.

 Elizabeth spoke a blessing over Mary.  She did so out of love, honor, and reverence.  Have you ever had the opportunity to speak a blessing over someone else?  How did it make you feel?

3)     Elizabeth gives birth to John (Luke 1:67-80)

Elizabeth defied custom when her son was born.  Babies were typically named on the day of circumcision (about 8 days after birth), and they were typically named after the family. She boldly stepped forward and told everyone present that her son would be named “John” (meaning God is gracious).  

There was a lot of disagreement, but she would not back down.  When the family members couldn’t get her to change her mind, they turned to Zechariah for backup.  Since he still could not speak, he asked for a writing tablet.  He wrote out one sentence: “His name is John.”  Immediately upon doing so, his speech and hearing returned.  

Everyone was in awe of this, and came to the conclusion that this son must be destined for greatness, that “the hand of God was with him”. 

Think of a time in your life when you decided something and others were trying to change your mind.  Were you able to stand firm in your decision, knowing it was right in the eyes of God?

What were Elizabeth’s accomplishments?  What were Elizabeth’s strengths? What life lesson can we learn from Elizabeth?

 Heavenly Father, We thank you that you are a God of miracles.  We thank you that you give us the  opportunity to speak blessings into the lives of others.  We are so grateful that you are a God of great promises. We pray that you will pour out your blessings on our lives, as you did in the lives of Elizabeth and Mary. In Jesus’ name. Amen.