Day Three Hundred Fifty-Three “Elizabeth”
Her small, wrinkled hands rested tenderly upon her rounded belly, cherishing every movement made possible by the child dwelling within her. Although this elderly woman’s name meant God is my oath and her husband’s name was interpreted God has remembered again, she previously had little reason to believe that she would see her dream of becoming a mother turn into reality. Yes, she was familiar with God’s grace demonstrated to her ancestors, Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah, all childless women who had their dream of motherhood fulfilled by the grace of God. But now she and Zacharias would see first-hand that blessing revealed in their lives.
They would be content enough to dwell within their quiet home, secluded for a few months, taking in all the joy of anticipating the arrival of this child. Elisabeth was living an amazing dream, God had rearranged her life, planting a “child…the prophet of the Highest,” within her shriveled womb.
Elizabeth and Zacharias, “both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless,” were recipients of a wonderful promise, for this couple, “well stricken in age,” would be blessed with a son who would be “great in the sight of the Lord,” namely, John the Baptist. But as Elisabeth “hid herself five months,” her quiet days were interrupted; someone was approaching, coming down the path to their home.
The old woman would rise, steady herself, and prepare to welcome her guest. But wait, it’s Mary, my cousin, how wonderful for her to visit us! But when young Mary greeted her cousin, those words of greeting created a gale-force reaction within Elisabeth’s aged body, as “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.” The two women held each other, their bonds of kinship now stronger than mere flesh and blood could forge, for they were sharing a promise. Israel’s God, the God of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, Naomi, Ruth, Abigail, and Hannah was on the move again! God would keep His promise of a Redeemer, for the Messiah was coming! God always keeps His promise, and this “hope for eternal life, which God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began,” would find fulfillment in the Christ child birthed by young Mary.
I named my first child Elizabeth because she was a fulfillment of God’s love to me, so that I would always be reminded that God is my oath, He keeps his “great and exceeding promises” to me. I can always rest in His Word.
II Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
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