His Instruments Vol. 2: If God Could Use Them He Can Use Us

By Sebastian Myladiyil

If God could use these instruments of His grace...He can use us!

Biblical characters come alive when we read, reflect, and pray with the Bible. This book, His Instruments: If God Could Use Them...He Can Use Us (Vol. 2) can help us understand the Scriptures better. While His Instruments (Vol. 1) focused on Old Testament characte

• Language: English
• Publisher: River Birch Press
• Release date: Dec 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781951561628

Sebastian Myladiyil

FR. SEBASTIAN MYLADIYIL, SVD is a native of India and a naturalized U.S. citizen. He is a Divine Word Missionary priest, serving in the Southern Province of USA since 1999. He has served as pastor of St. Rose de Lima in Bay St. Louis, MS, Immaculate Conception in Liberty, TX, and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lafayette, LA. Currently he serves at Sacred Heart in Greenville, MS, St. Francis in Shaw, MS, and Sacred Heart in Rosedale, MS.

Book preview

1

ZECHARIAH:

UNSPEAKABLE JOY

Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly (Luke 1:6).

Among the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), we find more information about the events surrounding the birth of Jesus in the gospel of Luke. His infancy narrative (1:5–2:52) not only provides information about the birth of the Messiah but also about the birth of His forerunner, John the Baptist, and his parents. Scripture scholars credit Luke for his historical approach and laud his narratives that emphasize themes of love, compassion, the role of women, preferential treatment of the poor, the elderly, etc. This article focuses on the role of an elderly couple in the salvation history.

God chose a devout, elderly couple to be the parents of the Messenger—John the Baptist. Zechariah and Elizabeth were closer to the grave than to the cradle. Their age might indicate they were not at a stage in their lives to initiate a new beginning, or take up a new endeavor, or accept a new challenge. Probably the childless couple was resigned to the quiet days of their old age, performing simple tasks in their lives. They could have never imagined the great favor God had in store for them. By choosing the elderly couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth, God proclaimed loud and clear that no limitations of life would be a barrier to accomplishing His purpose.

Zechariah’s life centered around God and the temple. He thanked God daily for the privilege of being a priest at the temple in Jerusalem. It was his birthright, as he was from the priestly tribe of Aaron. Specifically, he was part of the eighth priestly division of Abijah, one of the twenty-four priestly groups created during the reign of King David (1 Chron. 24). Zechariah grew up in a religious family and dreamed of performing specific functions and offering prayers in the temple. He was deeply spiritual and greatly enthusiastic to learn about all the teachings of his faith and the rituals affiliated with it.

There were thousands of priests, and many times most of them had no noticeable function in the temple. As every direct descendant of Aaron was automatically a priest, there were far too many of them for all practical purposes. Zechariah had realized early in his life that leading a holy and blameless life before God and serving the people in love were the greatest responsibilities of a priest. He considered himself fortunate to be married to Elizabeth, who was also descended from a priestly family. In their culture, it was considered a great privilege and meritorious to marry a woman from the priestly clan. They complemented each other well and devoted their lives to God through their virtuous service.

The reconstruction of the temple of Jerusalem that took place under King Herod the Great had brought new hope for the people. There was an air of expectation that something glorious and wonderful was about to happen. Many were claiming that God was going to fulfill His promises, and the coming of the promised Messiah was imminent. Based on their Jewish worldview, they also knew that Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets would come announcing the arrival of the Messiah. Prophet Malachi had foretold that the Lord would send a messenger to prepare the way (Mal. 3:1) and that it would be Elijah (v. 23). Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed daily to have the grace to see the Messenger who would help them prepare for the coming of the Messiah.

Although they lived virtuous and holy lives, they were affected by the sad reality of Elizabeth’s condition of infertility. Even if one strives to live a holy life, one’s life can still be affected by tragedy. Zechariah and Elizabeth had been enduring one such tragedy. They had hoped and prayed to have children who would carry on their family traditions and name. Childlessness was frowned upon, as it was viewed as a matter of shame. It was a valid ground for divorce. A Jew who had a barren wife was presumed to be excluded from God’s favor. However, this painful reality did not diminish their love for one another. Zechariah constantly comforted Elizabeth, and he asked her to look beyond their deprivation and focus on the numerous blessings God had bestowed on them.

Serving as a priest gave Zechariah such great joy that in the temple, he forgot about his personal and family trials and focused his attention totally on God. As was the custom, one priest was chosen by lot every day to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense before the sacrifice was offered. This task was the highlight of a priest’s life, and in most cases, it was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege. Zechariah was overjoyed at being chosen by lot that day to enter the sanctuary.

As he stood in the sanctuary, he felt truly unworthy and, at the same time, joyous to perform the beautiful priestly duty. He was truly humbled by the mercy of God, who constantly used ordinary and simple human beings to accomplish His purpose, and he felt his heart bursting in gratitude. He tried to quiet his mind and offer all the prayers in his heart. We see the power of prayer at work here. The people believed that in the incense ritual, their prayers were enveloped in the holy smoke and carried by an angel to God. The smoke rising represented the pillar of cloud (Ex. 12:21), which reminded the people of God’s presence. Zechariah was truly engrossed in the ritual of offering his prayers to God.

Suddenly he experienced the presence of someone by the altar, and he thought he was dreaming. Standing there was an angel, who calmed the fear in Zechariah with these words, Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard (Lk. 1:13a). He was both awestruck and startled at the vision and the words of the angel. Certainly, he was not ready to hear the unexpected words from the angel: Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John (v. 13b). The angel announced that the promised child would be filled with the Holy Spirit, serve in the spirit and power of Elijah, and prepare the way of the Lord.

In this episode, it seems that Zechariah was praying for a son, but he never expected his prayer to be answered. It may be that Zechariah was praying just out of habit and must have pretty much given up his hope for a child. We need to ask ourselves these questions: Why pray to God if you don’t truly believe He has the power to answer your prayers? and Are we praying out of sheer habit, or are we truly conscious of what we’re praying for? We have to have faith to realize that God always listens to our prayers and answers them in His time. We have to pray with expectation and conviction that God will hear them and answer them. We must not only pray, hope, and have faith, but we must wait with expectation. What may seem impossible to us is entirely possible in the realm of God’s great power and love.

When Zechariah heard the words of the angel, he must have been thrilled and yet puzzled at the same time. Being a practical person, Zechariah could not refrain from making his doubts known about the impossibility of such a promise. The angel’s response to Zechariah was direct: I am Gabriel, who stands before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time (vv. 19–20). Even the words of the angel, saying that he would be mute until the events happened, did not take away the awesome feelings Zechariah had in his heart. He came out of the sanctuary mute. Yet his heart was full of joy, and people realized that something special had happened to him in the sanctuary.

How will I communicate this wonderful news to my wife? Zechariah might have wondered as he headed home with inexplicable joy. The moment he arrived at his house and witnessed the glow on Elizabeth’s face, he knew there was no need for any words. They fell to their knees together to give thanks to God and praise Him for the marvelous things He had done in their lives. They prayed in silence for a very long time, holding hands, looking at each other, and seeing the miraculous presence of God in one another. Their silence communicated in a way more than any number of words could ever convey. God had heard their prayer and answered in a way greater than they had ever expected.

Day after day, Zechariah thought about the beautiful experience in the sanctuary, savoring it in his heart. He felt humbled at the thought of God sending His angel to reveal His plan of salvation. Whenever he thought of his doubting words to the angel, he grimaced. Those words of doubt had been his spontaneous reaction to a very unlikely favor. He did not consider his muteness as any form of punishment because he thought he deserved worse for doubting God’s words. As time went on, he might have felt his muteness as a blessing so he could recollect and cherish his amazing experience of God.

Zechariah’s joy was indescribable when he held his newborn boy in his hands. There were many reasons for great joy: having a child in their old age, the removal of the shame associated with childlessness, having a son to carry on the family legacy, and the provision of safety and security for their old age. However, the cause for Zechariah’s greatest joy was the realization that God had set this little boy apart for a special purpose—to be the herald of the Messiah!

When the time came to name the child, Elizabeth volunteered the information the angel had given, but the people who were present seemed to doubt her. Zechariah motioned to fetch a tablet, but when he wrote down the name John upon it, he felt the touch of God on his lips. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he opened his lips and burst out into a marvelous song of praise, known as the Canticle of Zechariah (vv. 67–79). His words truly reflected his confidence in God’s promises and a solemn proclamation of God’s powerful deeds for the salvation of the world. In the most eloquent way, he recalled God’s glorious achievements in the past and God’s plan for the future.

Looking down at the tiny face of John, Zechariah spoke with great pride and joy about the incredible task his son was to fulfill— preparing the way of the Messiah by preaching the message of repentance and leading the people to the knowledge of salvation. He spoke beautifully about the mission of the Messiah, which entailed shining His light on those who dwelled in the shadow of death and leading them into the way of peace: The dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace (Lk. 1:78–79 NRSV). It was, indeed, a moment of absolute bliss and contentment for Zechariah, who truly came to understand the true purpose of his life—to be the father of the Messenger.

Sometimes we need silence in order to appreciate the truth of what God is doing for us. When we engage ourselves in a world of meaningless chatter, we can miss when God is talking, acting, and moving in the world. When we are in doubt, we can lose sight of God’s miracles around us. On the other hand, when we trust in God and obey His commands and directives, we will find miracles happening in our lives. Then we will realize that with God, all things are possible (Mt. 19:26) and that He will guide our lives in the way of peace (Lk. 1:79b).

Let your joy be in your journey, not in some distant goal. —Tim Cook

For Further Reflection and Discussion

1. Saint Paul says, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27 ESV). Can this statement be applied to any biblical characters? How about you?

2. Living a holy and righteous life does not mean you are immune to tragedies. Discuss.

3. We should not only pray, hope, and have faith, but we must wait with expectation. Elaborate.

4. The apparent punishment of muteness that Zechariah endured turned out to be a blessing in disguise. How?

5. When we make the mistake of talking constantly, we can miss when God is talking, acting, and moving in the world. Discuss.

2

ELIZABETH:

FAVORED BY GOD

So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others (Luke 1:25).

Several women in the Bible whose experiences of pain and shame on account of infertility have become decisive examples of God’s providential care. In the Old Testament, we find at least five women who were initially childless, but who later in life gave birth to children on account of God’s special favor.

The first childless woman listed in the Bible was Sarai, the wife of Abram (Abraham), who was later given the name Sarah. She had to wait until she was in her nineties before she bore Isaac (Gen. 21:2). The second woman was Rebekah. She prayed, and Isaac petitioned God for healing. She finally conceived twenty years after her wedding to Isaac and gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob (Gen. 25:25–26). Jacob’s wife Rachel was the third barren woman in the Bible, and she gave birth to Joseph (Gen. 30:23) and Benjamin (Gen. 35:18). The fourth woman was Samson’s mother, the wife of Manoah of the tribe of Dan. She was miraculously healed and gave birth to Samson, who became the strongest judge of Israel (Judg. 13:24). The fifth childless woman was Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, and the child born to them was Samuel (1 Sam. 1:20). Each of these children played a vital role in the Bible and in the history of Israel as a nation. Their mothers were eventually spared of the shame associated with infertility, and they stand as true witnesses to God’s favor.

Elizabeth also stands in the line of witnesses upon whom God’s favor rested in a way that was beyond her expectations. Her ceaseless prayers were answered with a son, John, whose identity and mission would never be forgotten by humanity in history. Jesus called John the greatest man who had been born of a woman (Mt. 11:11).

Elizabeth was born into the priestly family of Aaron. As she grew up in an environment of faith and religious practices, she developed a great devotion to God at an early age. Her marriage to Zechariah, a respectable man from the priestly division of Abijah, deepened her commitment to God. Both were godly and observed God’s commandments and statutes faithfully. They were righteous before God and people, and they led blameless lives.

Every person faces challenges and struggles in their lives, and one’s devotion to God does not insulate a person from such experiences. For a person of faith, such challenges and struggles can become a catalyst to form a deeper relationship with God. That is because challenges and struggles often remind a person of the need to depend on God and His providential care. Elizabeth and Zechariah had enjoyed many favors from God, and their initial years of marriage were filled with great joy and contentment.

However, as months rolled into years, the devout couple began to grieve over their state of childlessness. They prayed fervently to God to bless their lives with a child. In their culture, there were always speculations as to why a woman was barren. It was normally attributed to some sin, either of the couple or of their ancestors. Sometimes it was even attributed to some form of demonic oppression. On a societal level, it was a grave matter of disgrace and shame. For a woman, it was a cause for instability and insecurity in family life, as childlessness was viewed as a legitimate ground for divorce.

Seeing someone who is enjoying what you desire the most may cause pain in your heart. Your holy and devout life may not make you immune to such natural human emotions. There must have been moments when Elizabeth stood in sadness, watching mothers pass by with their children. Every time she held an infant in her arms, she must have experienced pangs of sorrow regarding her condition. There must have been people who said cruel things behind her back, as there are always people who say good things in front of you and bad things about you with others.

Elizabeth faced all these realities with patience and grace. None of these experiences ever lessened her devotion to God. She must have thanked God daily for Zechariah, who exhibited a tremendous sense of patience and understanding. Beyond his calming assurance and comforting words, though, she was able to perceive the pain he felt. It is a reality of life that when two people share the burden, it often becomes a bit lighter. All these realizations only deepened her love for Zechariah and, at the same time, made her more determined to knock at the doors of heaven with complete trust and faith.

On the day Zechariah was chosen to offer incense at the temple, something very special happened to her. She was overjoyed for Zechariah, as she knew how much her husband looked forward to serving God at the temple. However, there was something else happening in her whole being—something she could not express in words. She felt a tremendous sense of peace, calmness, and joy enveloping her. She experienced an energy and an enthusiasm that she had not felt in years. She felt all the burdens in her heart being lifted away, and at the same time, she was wrapped in God’s love.

When Zechariah returned, she saw his face also radiating with joy and hope. Although he was mute and unable to speak, she knew something extraordinary was about to happen. As they sat in perfect silence, their moments of stillness communicated volumes more than any number of words ever could. As days passed, Elizabeth realized that God’s favor was upon her and that she was finally with child. For the first few months, she went into seclusion, not out of shame or embarrassment, but rather out of joy and gratitude. Her words were powerful: So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others (Lk. 1:25). She acknowledged God’s timely favor, which had dispelled any disgrace associated with being a barren woman. God was acting at a time when she least expected it, and His deeds outdid her hopes and dreams.

More good news was to follow with the arrival of her young cousin Mary. There had been no news from Mary’s family for a while, except that of the young Mary’s proposed marriage to Joseph in the near future. Elizabeth was overjoyed at seeing Mary and also at the baby growing within her. The child in her womb seemed to share her emotion as he leapt for joy in her womb. This was no ordinary baby kick, but an unusual supernatural divine movement that coincided with the descending of the Holy Spirit upon Elizabeth. At that very moment, she was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (vv. 42–43).

It was as if Elizabeth knew right away that the child in Mary’s womb was the Most Blessed One, the promised Savior, who would alter the history of the world, and redeem and transform the destiny of the human race. By exclaiming, the mother of my Lord, Elizabeth was acknowledging the presence of the Son of God and His mother. Elizabeth became the first person to recognize the divinity of Jesus by addressing him with the Messianic title, Lord. Centuries later, in the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, these same words of Elizabeth’s would inspire the church fathers to give Mary the title, Mother of God.

The Messiah Himself and His mother were now before Elizabeth and her unborn child! This awesome proximity suddenly filled Zechariah’s small home with all the joy, all the hopes, and the assurance of all the prayers for the coming of the Messiah for whom the people of God had been waiting. Finally, redemption was at hand— for Elizabeth, for Mary, for the chosen people of Israel, and for the whole world.

During the three months that followed, Elizabeth and Mary must have spoken about all the things that had happened to them, including their hopes and anxieties. Two ordinary women had found great favor in God’s sight! In faith, they recognized the impossible happening in their lives, and they acknowledged it with great joy. On a human level, it was impossible for Elizabeth to conceive in her old age. Similarly, for Mary being a virgin, it was also impossible for her to be with child. But both women, by their experiences, proclaimed loud and clear that nothing will be impossible for God (v. 37).

It must have been a difficult pregnancy for Elizabeth, who was advanced in years. But nothing took away the joy of her experience. She cherished each and every movement of her child growing within her, and she was so anxious for the day when she would hold him in her arms. Zechariah, still mute, was always at her side with a serene expression on his face. She must have cried with joy when she finally got to see the face of her newborn baby. This was the moment when all her dreams and prayers became a reality—probably the most cherished moment of her life. Right before her eyes, she was witnessing God’s favor at a very unlikely time. Never did she doubt God’s power and might.

When it was time to name the baby, she volunteered and made it clear to the people that he would be called John. People objected, saying there was no such name among their kinfolks. And it was unusual for a woman to be so bold in public. But Elizabeth stood her ground. She had known the decision from God through Zechariah. However, the people in their culture did not believe in the words of a woman. So, ignoring her protests, they inquired of Zechariah what he wished the child’s name to be. Zechariah must have smiled at Elizabeth before asking for a tablet. What he wrote, John is his name (v. 63), amazed everyone and gave tremendous joy to Elizabeth. More surprises followed when suddenly he spoke after nine months of silence! His words were of great praise to God, who had done marvelous things in their midst.

Elizabeth is a towering example of faith, perseverance, and persistence. Life is often not fair, and when there is unexpected suffering and pain, faithfulness to God keeps us grounded, and prayer opens the doors to possibilities. Through her life of trust and surrender to the will of God, Elizabeth proclaimed loud and clear that it is better to wait in hope and serenity than be consumed by despair and anger. The psalmist so beautifully captured the experience: Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! (Ps. 27:14).

Elizabeth’s words are immortalized as a beautiful Christian prayer: Hail Mary. Its inspiration is found in the infancy narratives in the gospel of Luke 1, particularly in the words of Elizabeth. When Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth says out of joy, Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb (Lk. 1:42). The words of this humble woman, Elizabeth, have become a powerful form of prayer as it leads us to the fruit of Mary’s womb— Jesus. In this beautiful prayer, we also acknowledge that blessed are all those who hear Him, believe in Him, and follow Him in the ways of peace, justice, and love.

One reason many people never see God working in their lives is because they never hang in long enough for God show His power. —Wayne Stiles

For Further Reflection and Discussion

1. It is said, Every child is a bundle of possibilities. How does a mother view this statement?

2. What were the pains and anxieties Elizabeth bore on account of her barrenness?

3. Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age… for nothing will be impossible for God (Lk. 1:36–37). How true is this statement in the lives of Mary and Elizabeth?

4. Elizabeth said, Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled (Lk. 1:45). What difference did Elizabeth find in the responses of Zechariah and Mary?

5. Elizabeth exclaimed: "How does this happen to me, that the mother of