This is the way the Lord deals with His own

It’s possible to read the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth in Luke 1 and think, “that’s a blessed family.”  But that’s like reading the last chapter of a book first, finding the happy ending and assuming that the participants of the story knew the end of the story while all the hard stuff was happening, just like you as the reader did.  But in the midst of the action they don’t know the ending.  And Zacharias and Elizabeth didn’t know the ending either.

It’s helpful to recognize that their lives were not necessarily as blissful as it might appear.  Many events in this story might be understood as hard circumstances.

For instance, they lived their lives in Roman-occupied Jerusalem under ungodly Herod (v. 5).  He murdered his wife, her brother and mother, and several of his own sons.  Yet the great depth of his depravity was revealed in the ruthless slaughter of the infants in Matthew 2 — a killing that was motivated by his jealousy and fear.

They also had no children. They were both old — too old to bear children (v. 7).  Life had passed them by.  There were no more opportunities.  Yet this disgrace was not only the lack of children, but the perception was that the lack of children was the judgment of God — “there must be some secret sin…” was surely whispered.  And they lived with this disgrace for many years — they were well past child-bearing years.  Not only did they have a difficulty in their lives, but this was a trial that just wouldn’t go away.

Another problem was that an angel appeared to Zacharias — and given his initial fearful response, it’s pretty clear that he didn’t take that arrival as a blessing (v. 12).

Despite his righteousness (v. 6), Zacharias’ response to the revelation of God was unbelief and a questioning of God’s ability (v. 18).  And Zacharias experienced the discipline of God because of His unbelief (vv. 20ff).

Combine all these difficulties and the lives of Zacharias and Elizabeth demonstrate that life is sometimes hard and when we follow God, it is not always easier.  In fact, given that God promises that all who are in Christ will suffer (2 Tim. 3:12), it might be said that believers endure even more hardship than unbelievers.   God has not promised a life of ease.  But He has promised us a life of transformation and change rarely happens when we are at ease.  Change is hastened and deepened when we are in various crucibles of trial.  They are good for us.  Do not run from them, but embrace and be thankful for them.

While we see hardships in the lives of Zacharias and Elizabeth, they also knew much grace.

Both Zacharias and Elizabeth came from the godly lineage of Aaron (v. 5).  Being a priest was a blessing.  But that his wife was also a priest’s daughter was considered a double blessing and privilege from God.

Both Zacharias and Elizabeth possessed righteousness in the eyes of God (v. 6).  That verse means that they were both justified (righteous) and being progressively sanctified (walking blamelessly).

Zacharias was also chosen to enter the Holy Place (vv. 9-10).  This was not a “right” given to Zacharias — it was a particular and special blessing, that was enjoyed by only a very few priests, and undoubtedly some priests never enjoyed this favor at any time in their lives.

A fourth evidence of grace is that the angel comforted Zacharias in his fear (v. 13).  And what a comfort he received.  At the moment the priest went into the Holy Place, he was representing the entire nation.  It would be natural for not only the nation to pray for him (v. 10) but for him to pray for the redemption of the nation and the Messiah.  Yet the answer to the prayer is the provision of a son, which demonstrates that God answered two prayers through the one provision — the couple received a son and the nation received her Messiah!

And the final, most public evidence of grace is that the aged Elizabeth became pregnant (v. 24)!  Here we are reminded of the story of Abraham and Sarah and perhaps even Hannah.  God has graciously accomplished the seeming impossible.

And in all these observations, verse 25 is the key that unlocks this story.  Elizabeth looks back on all that has happened and says, “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me, and it has been gracious.”

“He looked upon me” is a rare word — it means to look at someone favorably.  Elizabeth considered all that happened and considered it to be a favorable look and action by God toward her.

How does God deal with His people?  How does He act toward His own?  Some believe He is hard and heavy-handed. This story reminds us that He is a God of astounding grace.

This story demonstrates that God entrusts us with hardships to demonstrate His gracious power and provision.  If there is no hardship, there is no need for His sustaining power (2 Cor. 12:9) and we will never know of His faithfulness to provide a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13).

And without undeserved hardship and trial there also is no undeserved grace.  If we only receive what is “fair,” we might receive fewer trials and troubles, but we would receive no grace.

It is for that reason that Elizabeth can summarize this story and say that God has been gracious and favorable to her.

This is the way the Lord deals with His own.