Zechariah was engaged in ministry work when he was met by the angel Gabriel. Scripture tells us that Zechariah was startled. It had been hundreds of years since any man had received a prophetic word from the LORD, and Zechariah found himself in this strange position of not only hearing the word of the LORD, but also seeing the angel God had sent to deliver the message.
What does it mean for us as Christians when we've spent our time and effort in prayer, but then react with astonishment when God responds? After all, isn't prayer a dialogue? Shouldn't we anticipate that we won't be the only one talking, but that God will make Himself known and heard?
Sadly, in the face of this amazing experience, Zechariah responded with his rationale for not believing Gabriel's message. And there is a part of me that doesn't even want to write this because someone might take offense, but I really need to ask the question: What does it mean for us when God responds to our prayer, but we then rebuff His response with our limited experience and our myopic vision of who God is and what He is capable of doing?
Zechariah's response to the word of the Lord was shocking and disgraceful. This aged minister said, in effect, Gabriel, God's message is wrong. My wife and I are too old and it's too late. But, on what authority could Zechariah stand to say that God was too late? Didn't Zechariah have knowledge of the Law and the Prophets? Didn't Zechariah undergo decades of learning the history of God's dealings with the nation of Israel? Didn't Zechariah know that he served the same God who parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River, who sent prophets to heal the sick and raise the dead, and who even sent angels to inform Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child in their old age?
There it is. And that is why Zechariah's response was so wrong.
God had done the “miraculous childbirth to aged parents” thing before, and the account of Abraham and Sarah was common knowledge for any priest. So, in essence, Zechariah's response was a double denial: he discredited the spoken report of Gabriel, and he dismissed the Abrahamic precedent which was written in the books of the Law.
But, enough about Zechariah. What about you and I?
In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Andy noted that it is dangerous to become accustomed to routine, particularly in ministry work. When the vehicle of God's grace and instruction becomes a chore (or, worse, a bore), we run the risk of becoming dulled to the truths we so carefully maintain as a service to others. As a result, when God shows up on our doorstep and speaks to us personally, we summarily dismiss Him.
Gabriel responded to Zechariah's denial with disciplinary action: Zechariah, because you spoke against the verbal and written message, you will not speak again until after your son is named. Perhaps some of us are not being heard today because of a word we spoke against God's messages and messengers. Perhaps some of us have lost our influence because we dismissed a God-ordained opportunity as if it were nonsense. But we are blessed to serve a God who specializes in forgiveness and reconciliation. If we repent, he will restore.
This morning God reminded me of part of a prayer that someone once prayed before a worship service: “God, deliver us from routine.” It's my prayer for today. I pray it's yours as well.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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