Nougat 27

What does belief mean for us who profess faith in Jesus? Here’s today’s Holy Nougat

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:45‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It was a season when God’s Word was not very audible in Israel. Israel had fallen into Rome’s hands and though there were priests … effectively every person could exercise their ‘rights’ to worship what and how ever they wished. This was the era when different groups were established for the sole purpose of studying Scripture to discern God’s will. These included the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Essenes, who studied the Scriptures in the hope of avoiding God’s punishment. (For history buffs, I’m referring to the ~ 400-year dry season called the inter-testamental period between the end of Malachi’s prophetic season and the establishment of John the Baptist’s ministry).

But, although these groups sought God’s will; few seemed to be hearing God’s voice. That’s what created the trouble, for when Zechariah was met by Gabriel, he had trouble believing what the angel promised would come to pass. He said as much to Gabriel (probably thinking that the prophecy sounded too good to be true).

Now, nothing is wrong with reasoning with God per se; but when religious leaders (like myself) are around, one hopes that the leader is hearing God and perhaps more critically, recognizing God’s voice when God speaks! Ironically, that which ‘caused’ the doubt was that which he’d probably prayed for for years!

As a priest, one presumes he was familiar with stories of God’s miraculous turning around of infertility – such as with Abram and Sarai, Jacob and Rachel, Hannah and Elimelech – but, like many of us Zechariah determined that despite his faithfulness, God’s grace didn’t extend to the working of miracles for him.

Yet Mary, perhaps in her teens, had no problem believing that God would fulfill God’s prophetic plans – not of reversing infertility; but a bona fide totally creative miracle by placing a real child in her womb! She understood the basics of biology (or had been warned enough about Joseph and other boys); yet she, an untrained young girl (who was to be seen but not heard!), believed.

They were visited by the same angel; although she didn’t know. He was a trained, practicing, ordained minister; she was just a young girl. Gabriel couldn’t help but commend her for believing God so readily.

Who are you regarding God has promised you? Mary the blessed believer or Zechariah the priestly doubter? Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ