What will this child be?
Today, we come back to the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. They waited, they prayed, and God made them a promise that they would have a son. We continue this story with the birth of their son, John the Baptist. Because this was obviously God at work, an elderly couple having a baby, it is important to see He gets all of the glory.
Ever been tempted to give up on your trust in God when the people in your life are judging your situation and maybe even looking down on you for hoping and trusting in God? I’m sure the neighbors of Zechariah and Elizabeth looked down on them for not having children. Now these same people are present for the birth of this miracle baby, and both Elizabeth and Zechariah give God all the glory. This caused those watching to be amazed and in awe and caused them to spread the amazing news over all surrounding villages. Noticing this was obviously God at work they, in amazement, asked, “What then will this child be?” In other words, when God does something miraculous, it causes people to pay attention and give God glory.
We have the same opportunity. When we put our hope and trust in God, it can look strange to people, maybe even cause them to look down on us. But when God shows up in our lives in an obvious way, people can’t help but give God the glory. Maybe this can help us change the perspectives of others when we are in struggles that seem impossible. We are invited day after day to place our hopes and trust in God, who works all things together for our good and for His glory.
Scriptures
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
My Help and My Deliverer
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.