Does God Hear?

In Luke 1, we have an account of the events surrounding John the Baptist’s conception and birth. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were both “righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commands and requirements of the Lord.” According to the Old Testament law, those who obey God would be blessed. As such, Zechariah and Elizabeth should have been blessed of the Lord. “And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advance in years.” To be childless in that time period was a disgrace, even a sign that one was cursed. Those around them probably wondered what sin they had committed that led to their childlessness. Yet the writer Luke makes the contrast that the couple was righteous and followed God even though they were childless.

It seems that God works in mysterious ways sometimes. We cannot predict how God works, though we can be sure of His character and His faithfulness. Given Zechariah and Elizabeth’s righteous lives, they should have been blessed with children, yet Elizabeth had no children. By this time experts think Elizabeth was likely between 60 to 80 years of age. It’s likely they had been praying for children according to verse 1:13, “. . . your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. . .” Could Zechariah and Elizabeth have wondered why God had not blessed us even though we have been faithful to Him.

Have you ever had this thought? You do all the right things, but things don’t seem to work out. You are faithfully following God, but life has not turned out as you’d hoped. Is God listening to my prayers?

God hears.

His ways are not our ways. His timing is certainly not constrained by our plans.

In the end God acts on Zechariah and Elizabeth’s prayer. God blesses them with a child at the stage in life which many would consider conception miraculous. Moreover, the son in her womb would be no ordinary Jewish boy.

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.  And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Can you imagine what Elizabeth and Zechariah felt at this time? To be barren at one moment and then conceive a baby the next moment at the age of 60 or 70 must have been surreal. Not only would Elizabeth conceive a son, but many would rejoice over his birth. And this son would be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb. He would turn many of the Jewish people back to their God! This reminds me of Paul’s words in Ephesians,

Now to Him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God hears. He is at work. We don’t know His timing or His methods. However, we can be assured of His goodness, faithfulness, compassion, and love. Therefore, “. . .brothers and sisters, do not grow weary of doing good.” Instead, we must “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”