"And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou BELIEVEST NOT my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless."
Don't be amazed when GOD uses other people to "speak" to you. Very seldom, in scripture and in modern day, does HE elect to supernaturally speak to people, as HE did here with Gabriel.
But when GOD sends Gabriel to deliver a message, adherence usually follows! Zacharias and Elisabeth were godly people. Verse 6 eludes to them BOTH being blameless before GOD. But Zacharias wanted PROOF that Elisabeth was going to have a child, as they were both getting older and it seemed "their time" had passed.
Zacharias was learned in scripture and FAITH, he knew to TRUST GOD! GOD demonstrated Luke 12:48 where JESUS says "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required". Zacharias was about to father the forerunner to the Saviour of the world, yet GOD would not let him speak of it. Because of his "unbelief", he was silenced.
GOD can speak through Gabriel, or HE can speak through a burning bush (Exodus 3), or HE can even speak through a donkey (Numbers 22:28)! HE sometimes with a "still, small voice". We have to be able to listen to HIM when HE speaks, or we won't hear (Matthew 13). It should be all of our desire to "hear" from GOD. There are those who desire to "hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (Matt. 13:17).
I pray that I listen intently enough for HIM and HIS direction that HE doesn't have to "MUTE" me!
No comments:
Post a Comment