When it was time to name Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s son during the circumcision, the local religious leaders were going to follow tradition and give him his father’s name. Elizabeth had learned from Zechariah that the angel who visited him in the temple said to name the boy John, which means “Jehovah has been gracious.” Zechariah still could not speak, so she spoke on their behalf. “NO! He is to be called John.” Zechariah had learned his lesson: trust, obey, and lower your pride. He wrote, “His name is John.”
When John was born Zechariah still couldn’t speak even though the angel said, “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens.” (Luke 1:20) God was faithful and kept his promise to Zechariah for a son even though he doubted. Yet when John was born what did Zechariah think and do even though he couldn’t speak? He learned his lesson. He trusted and obeyed.
According to verse 1:20, the angel said “‘until this happens'”, where “this” most likely refers to the baby’s birth. However, when John was born, Zechariah was unable to speak for eight more days. Zechariah could have become bitter about the eight extra days and forgotten all that he learned during his training. Yet he did not. Trust and obey even though God’s will goes against tradition and is hard to understand, let alone obey. Such faith is hard to find, but it is the kind of faith God seeks.
