And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
Luke 1:18
Zechariah’s request for a sign of the truth spoken to him was not unprecedented.* Abraham (Genesis 15:3–8; 18:11–12), Gideon (Judges 6:37), Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:8), and Ahaz (Isaiah 7:11) all asked God for a sign to confirm God’s words.* King Saul didn’t even have to ask, but he was told of signs to look for to guarantee what was said (1 Samuel 10:2–7).* Being a priest, Zechariah would be very familiar with these stories, especially the story of Israel’s patriarch Abraham, who also questioned God’s promise of an heir due to his age.*
Zechariah responds to the messenger of God with a recognition of his present, undeniable reality, and he wants to know, translated literally, “according to what?”* Ironically, Zechariah’s name means God remembers, but he himself does not seem to remember the miracles of God in the history of God’s people.*
Contrast, Mary questioned, “how,” which presupposes that what the angel said would come to pass (Luke 1:34).* Zechariah won’t believe the word of the angel until it happens. The words are not enough.
We come to see that the price that Zechariah pays for not believing the good news from the angel is the missed opportunity to share it (the angel silences Zechariah until the day that John is born).*
Sometimes we can pressure ourselves to have 100% belief 100% of the time. Surely, it makes more sense than even our present circumstances to trust God. Surely, if we were to allow the history of God’s ability, faithfulness, and power to speak louder than our current perceived reality, we would trust Him immediately. The reality, however, is that we are quite human, and God knows this. There are things that God wants to accomplish in and through our lives. God is big enough that He can work with us and our humanity, but how much better could it go for us if we would just believe His words?
Imagine the testimony that Zechariah could have immediately shared when he came out from the presence of God in the Temple? Imagine the people whose lives could have been impacted by the story he could have told over the nine months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
There are things that God wants to do in and through us to impact this generation and beyond into eternity. He does not require perfect humans to do it, but our belief sure does make a difference.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to believe His words. Perhaps today God would have you share about what He’s told to you. Maybe today God wants you to be honest about your reality while not denying His ability. Perhaps today God wants you to let go of the pressure to be perfect.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke (Lk 1:8–23). InterVarsity Press.
Garland, D. E. (2012). Luke (p. 68). Zondervan.
Edwards, J. R. (2015). The Gospel according to Luke (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 38). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Liefeld, W. L., & Pao, D. W. (2007). Luke. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Luke–Acts (Revised Edition) (Vol. 10, p. 56). Zondervan.
Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke (p. 50). Zondervan Publishing House.
Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke: 1:1–9:50 (Vol. 1, p. 91). Baker Academic.
Nolland, J. (1989). Luke 1:1–9:20 (Vol. 35A, p. 32). Word, Incorporated.