Angel #1...

December 2, 2011

Luke 1:19-20 And the angel answered him, “I am Gaberiel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will remain silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time”

Angels play a huge role in the story of Christ’s birth. Interestingly enough they are always men, and yet, none of my nativity sets have men angels; Oh, well just an interesting side note! Anyway, this visit of the Angel Gabriel was to Aaron. He and his wife Elizabeth had been unable to conceive children. In this day in age that would have been looked upon as a bad thing; it would have placed an unbearable stigma upon Elizabeth. Yet, the Angel Gabriel tells Aaron that his wife would conceive a son that they would name John. Aaron doesn’t believe the words of the angel standing in front of him and suffers from his unbelief with the loss of his voice.  The baby that Elizabeth will conceive and give birth to is John the Baptist. I think that Aaron’s and Elizabeth’s part of the nativity is an interesting one. I think it teaches us about waiting and trusting in God’s timing. God’s plan was for them to have a son, yet, it wouldn’t happen when Elizabeth wanted it to, and it happened in spite of Aaron’s unbelief; it happened in God’s timing and that timing was perfect. John the Baptist had a special role to fill and the timing of his birth was important. As we pray for things, one of the hardest things to do is realize that God’s timing might not be our own, and finding the faith to be alright with that.