ELISABETH

While Zacharias was performing his religious duties
in the temple, an angel appeared to him and announced
that his prayers for a child had been answered.
Elisabeth, his wife, would bear a son. The angel
instructed Zacharias to name his son John, and
predicted that the child would be filled with the
Holy Spirit, and would prepare the people for the
coming of the Lord.

When Zacharias had recovered from his astonishment,
he shook his head in disbelief. "My wife and I," he
protested, "are much too old to have a child." In
reply the angel told Zacharias that he had been sent
by God to give him this news. Such happy tidings he
should have received with joy, not disbelief. God
would therefore punish Zacharias for his refusal to
believe. He would be deprived of his speech until
the child was born.

Elisabeth had been carrying her baby for about six months
when the angel Gabriel announced to her cousin, Mary, that
she too would bear a son. Thrilling with this wonderful
news, Mary visited Elisabeth, who greeted her with the
words: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb."

Shortly after Elisabeth had given birth to her son, her
relatives proposed that the child be named for Zacharias,
his father. Elisabeth said, "Not so; but he shall be
called John." The relatives then appealed to the father,
sure that he would agree. But Zacharias took a tablet
and wrote: "His name is John." Immediately his tongue
was loosed and his speech returned, and Zacharias joyfully
praised God.

Unlike her husband, Elisabeth evidently never doubted for
a moment that God, if He so willed, could bless her with
a child regardless of her age. Her faith is what we would
expect in a woman so highly honored by God. For Elisabeth
was chosen to be the mother of John the Baptist, the herald
of the Messiah.

Indeed every woman who is blessed with motherhood is
thereby highly honored by God. Like all other high honors
motherhood carries with it heavy duties and responsibilities.
To discharge faithfully these duties and responsibilities
every mother needs God's constant help and a faith as
Elisabeth's.

Midi ~ He Touched Me