Gabriel Brings a Message: Luke 1:18-20
“18) Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19) The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20) And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”” Luke 1:18-20
Like many of us, Zacharias was a doubter. He looked at all the reasons why it could not happen. “How can this happen?” “ I am an old man. My wife is also old and past menopause. This is impossible!
Faith does not look at the natural, instead it sets its hope on the supernatural. It does not focus on the seen, but the unseen. It does not embrace the humanistic, but the Divine. Faith puts God into every equation.
God wants us to walk by faith and not by sight. He wants us to live in the reality of His existence, power and goodness. See Hebrews 11:6. Notice that this verse is the main premise of the faith chapter.
The angel answered the rhetorical questions and skepticism of Zacharias in two ways. First, he identified himself as Gabriel who stands in the presence of God. He is God’s primary messenger angel. He was the angel that appeared to Daniel. (Daniel 8:16; 9:21) This connection to Daniel would have been significant to Zacharias. As a priest, he knew the Old Testament.
Second, Gabriel noted that he had been sent from the presence of God with a divine message of good news. What was about to unfold was the will, plan and work of God.
Third, Zacharias would be silent and unable to speak until John was born. This was the consequence of his unbelief. It both prevented him from verbalizing doubt and it became a sign to all the people. God was at work!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“18) Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19) The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20) And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”” Luke 1:18-20
Like many of us, Zacharias was a doubter. He looked at all the reasons why it could not happen. “How can this happen?” “ I am an old man. My wife is also old and past menopause. This is impossible!
Faith does not look at the natural, instead it sets its hope on the supernatural. It does not focus on the seen, but the unseen. It does not embrace the humanistic, but the Divine. Faith puts God into every equation.
God wants us to walk by faith and not by sight. He wants us to live in the reality of His existence, power and goodness. See Hebrews 11:6. Notice that this verse is the main premise of the faith chapter.
The angel answered the rhetorical questions and skepticism of Zacharias in two ways. First, he identified himself as Gabriel who stands in the presence of God. He is God’s primary messenger angel. He was the angel that appeared to Daniel. (Daniel 8:16; 9:21) This connection to Daniel would have been significant to Zacharias. As a priest, he knew the Old Testament.
Second, Gabriel noted that he had been sent from the presence of God with a divine message of good news. What was about to unfold was the will, plan and work of God.
Third, Zacharias would be silent and unable to speak until John was born. This was the consequence of his unbelief. It both prevented him from verbalizing doubt and it became a sign to all the people. God was at work!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
