Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told her a prophecy that she was going to get pregnant and bear a son.
Mary was confused, from where to where? How will this happen? I’m not married, I’m a virgin.
Angel Gabriel said, you have found favour with God and blessed are you among women. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will bear a son; the Messiah.
Noticed how she questioned the angel and he calmly answered her question?
Hold that thought…
Same Angel Gabriel, went to Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, Mary’s Cousin.
The Angel said to Zechariah, God has heard your prayers and your wife will bear a son, you will name him John.
Zechariah asked him “How can this be?”
Angel Gabriel became angry “whinnest thou me?” (In Eric Gugua’s voice) ” I’m Gabriel, I stand in the presence of God!” In other words, ” how dare you doubt my message?”
Anyway, He went ahead and made Zechariah dumb. He lost his ability to speak until the child was born.
Now, I’ve always wondered, why did Zechariah receive a punishment for doubting but not Mary?
Months ago, my question was answered, I can’t remember who exactly answered it but I was listening to a sermon at the time.
Mary did not receive any punishment because, one, she was in fact a virgin and not yet married even though she was betrothed to Joseph the Carpenter, and having a child outside marriage was unacceptable in that era. Two, she was not praying for a child. Her question was justified.
Logically, it didn’t make any sense whatsoever.
Zechariah on the other hand, one, was married for a long time. Two, was praying for a child. Remember the angel said “God has heard your prayers?”
Third, he was a priest! Even if he thought Elizabeth his wife was way past childbearing age, he KNEW God had a track record of giving children to barren women according to His time not our biological clock. I mean he knows about Abraham and Sarah for one.
He was not in the position to doubt by asking “how will this happen?”
The Angel had to shut his mouth so that he doesn’t spoil the prophecy by speaking against it with the doubt in his heart.
At the end of that sermon, I learned that when prophecy is spoken over your life, your words, your actions, and your agreement or lack of it, can greatly impact the fulfillment of it.
Thank God for his enduring mercy.
May we not work against ourselves by doubting the promises of God over us.
Amen.
HAPPY NEW MONTH 🥳
Tis the season of Joy!
WELCOME TO DECEMBER AND MERRY CHRISTMAS IN ADVANCE 🎊
