Anticipation-Day 20

Day 20

When his time of service was completed, Zachariah went home from serving in the Temple, although in his mute state. His wife Elizabeth conceived, just as I had predicted, but still he remained mute. Zachariah lost the ability to talk for the entire time of Elizabeth’s confinement and beyond. This developing child was not to hear the voice of his biological father while in the womb. And since his mother secluded herself for the first five months, hiding herself away in gratefulness, he was to form in silence.

There was shame attached to being childless, but that shame came from being named as so. There is a need for sameness in the Sons of Adam which is not present in Divine. The Sons of Adam would argue that individuality and the uniqueness of each individual is something to value, but they practice little of it. The pressure to be same is great, and when one from their number is created differently, it causes insecurity and threat. The Sons of Adam will go after the one who does not conform or fit or who is different in any way, pressuring with words to achieve sameness. It is in sameness they feel secure. So Elizabeth endured the whispers, the taunts and the declarations about her perceived insufficiency.

If the Sons of Adam are all the same, they do not have to look at what is deficient in themselves. Therefore, all is well. The most potent weapon they have to achieve sameness is words. Words uncover difference. Words chip away at difference until it is thoroughly exposed and magnified.  The end result is that the Sons of Adam become their difference, instead of just one of the crowd with a novel characteristic. So, Elizabeth became Barren.  That was her name. Barren! Of course, the Sons of Adam still called her Elizabeth, but that name became synonymous with Barren. It became her identity.

So, when Miriam came to visit in the sixth month, her greeting was a salute. The Sons of Adam may not know that a salute was a greeting to 'pay one's respects to someone of greater import.' It was given to those who show regard for a distinguished person by visiting him. Miriam was paying her respects to Elizabeth and recognizing what Divine had done. She brought honor and well wishes and the joy of sharing in the blessing. She entered into Elizabeth’s world and story with celebration and utmost selflessness.

It was at the point of Miriam’s greeting that Elizabeth’s child leapt in her womb. This still developing prophet performed his first prophetic act. He leapt in Elizabeth’s womb. The baby was already recognizing the greatness within Miriam and saluting Him. In the silence of grace, where nothing intruded to defile his attention, the baby developed an acute hearing far beyond the natural.  When the realm of eternity intersected with the now time, he knew it instantly and joy was the natural outworking of his person. He became a catalyst and his mother was then the recipient of his understanding. She was filled with the Spirit of Divine and voiced what her child was acting out in her womb. She cried out with a loud cry, and then exclaimed, “Blessed above all other women are you! And blessed is the Fruit of your womb! And how have I deserved that this honor should be granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Elizabeth’s salutation was a prophetic declaration of identity, not only of Miriam, but of her Babe within. There are layers upon layers of nuance in the story of Immanuel. I am grateful to be one of the translators of small portions.