Advent Day 22 Matthew 1:57 ESV

“Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.” (Matthew 1:57 ESV)

Typically, we don’t think that a woman giving birth to a child is a big deal. Since the beginning of time, women have been having babies and will continue to have babies as long as this earth remains. But this was no ordinary birth. This was the birth that was prophesied some 700 years before this event.

In Isaiah 40:3, we read, “A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” This was a messianic prophecy about the restoration of the nation of Israel, an event that would have released Israel from all foreign control and restored it to the glory of King David’s time.  Of course, this was to be a spiritual restoration; it would be led by the “Redeemer” of Israel, by the promised Messiah.

The nation of Israel had been waiting for so long and through so many occupations by foreign governments, and the people were always desiring this wonderful event. But every true believer in the one and only God, the God called Yahweh, knew that there was someone who would precede this promised Messiah, someone who would be proclaiming in the wilderness and would prepare the way of the LORD their God. This forerunner of Jesus the Messiah was John the Baptizer, and it was his birth that was also prophesied; he was the one who would “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” (Matt. 3:3).

Again, this was no ordinary birth of a child; you will remember that Elizabeth and Zechariah were both “advanced in years,” both well beyond childbearing age. Although Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful followers of God and had for years prayed for God to give them a child, the time had not been right. However, God in His omniscience knew that today was the very day that the “forerunner” of the promised Messiah was to be born.

I’m sure that Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for decades for God to show them what was wrong and why He had not blessed them with a child of their own. But the faithful do not always understand that God’s timing is always perfect?

So many times, we look at our circumstances and can’t understand why we are having to “wait” for an answer to our prayers. We ask ourselves, “Isn’t God listening?”.  “What have we done wrong to prevent God from answering our prayers?” I’m sure Zechariah and Elizabeth had asked this very question many times. Sometimes we even question if God cares about us anymore.

We look back at times in the past when God was very present in our lives, we could see Him blessing us and providing for us, but not now. And we ask, “What is God waiting for?” God is waiting for the “right time” to bring forth His blessings. We see that God is not pressured to answer prayers before it is the right time.

The nation of Israel had been praying for over 700 years for God to provide their deliverance, Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for decades for a child, and God was not rushed by their prayers. God knew the perfect time to bring forth the one who would make straight the way of the Lord.

You see, God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. God is everything that we are not. God doesn’t hide His eyes from our infirmities and problems. God knows all about every one of them, and God will address each one in His time, the “right time”, and might I add, the perfect time. God is aware of many other events we can’t even fathom, and He is always active, arranging them so they all come about at the right time for our good and, more importantly, for His glory.

In just a short six months, the long-awaited Messiah will be born, and God was already preparing for John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, to be born into this world so that John could be a voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord.

So, believer, don’t get discouraged by God’s delay in answering your prayers. Remember, God knows the right time to answer them. Trust Him, for this little while of His delay, God is faithful, and our God is a promise keeper.

"Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"

Advent Prayer Day 22

Father God,

As we see you active in our lives and in our world, help us to remember that you are everything that we naturally are not.

You are all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving.

We can trust in you and release the control of our lives, knowing that we can trust Your control.

For you loved us before time, and despite our sinful nature.

In Jesus name, we pray, Amen