At the time when Herod was still king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zecharias.  He had a wife named, Elizabeth and both of them were upright in God's sight.  Although they obeyed all the Lord's commandments faithfully, they had no children and now were getting old.

One day it was Zecharias's turn to be on duty and he went into the temple to burn incense.  While he was busy, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zecharias and when he saw him, he was filled with fear.

The angel Gabriel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zecharias, your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth is going to have a son.  You are to give him the name John.  He will be a joy and delight to you and will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.  And he will bring many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God."

Zecharias asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man and my wife is getting old?"  The angel answered, "I am Gabriel and I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to tell you this good news.  And now you will not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words!"

Meanwhile, the people outside the temple were waiting for Zecharias and wondering why he stayed inside so long.  When he came out, they realised that he had seen a vision, for he kept making signs to them, but was unable to speak.  Can you imagine what it was like, because it was to be nine long months before he would be able to speak again.  What a terrible and frustrating time that must have been for him!

All he could do was just point to things and wave his arms about trying to get across what he wanted.  In those days they didn't have a sign language and so Zacharias must have got angry and stamped his feet many times!   At last Zecharias' time of duty was completed and he returned home.   Imagine how he struggled to tell his wife that she was going to have a baby!

Let's help him,  Turn to the person next to you and without talking, tell them by making signs that she is going to have a baby, and that you are very happy about this! (Let all the children try this).

In due time, his wife, Elizabeth in gave birth to a son.  All their neighbours and relatives gathered together to celebrate the birth, and were going to name the baby after his father Zecharias.  Elizabeth said, "No, he is to be called John."

They said to her, "But there is no one among your relatives who has that name."  They then made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name the child.  He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John."

Immediately he could speak again and began praising God.  The neighbours and friends were amazed and this story spread throughout the hill country of Judea.  Everyone who heard this wondered, "What is this child going to be?"

His father Zecharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, "And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him (Jesus), to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins."

And the child grew and the Lord was with him.  He lived in the desert and ate locusts and wild honey until he started preaching to Israel as John the Baptist.

It's wise to believe what God says and promises, for God always keeps His Word and never lies.  Zecharias refused to believe, and was struck dumb for his unbelief.

God doesn't want us to be like Zecharias.  No, He wants us to believe and obey what He tells us to do in the Bible.  God also wants us to trust Him to keep His word and His many promises.

God bless!