When God Speaks

Nearly 28 years ago, Lori and I sat before a customs officer in India, waiting for him to release our shipment from the States. We had brought several computers for the school along with our personal belongings. We didn’t anticipate a large customs duty; we were young and foolish. Our friends in India said that customs duty would be in the tens of thousands. While we waited in front of the officers, others were bringing papers to him to put in dollar amounts. He was saying, “$10,000” or “$15,000” or “$20,000.” Lori and I had $500 with us. As we were worrying, he looked at us and said, “God tells me I need to help you.” (He was a Hindu sitting in an office with statues and pictures of Hindu gods.) I was puzzled, but Lori said, “Obey him.” He said, “I will. How about you pay $200 in duties?” Lori started crying tears of joy! He said, “Ma’am, don’t cry. I’ll make it $100.” We thanked him, paid the $100, and returned home. Our friends were convinced we were fooled. But that evening, our shipment came.

When God or his angels speak, miracles happen.

When the Angel of the Lord said to Zechariah that he would have a son who would be a blessing to him and the nation of Israel, Zechariah responded,

“How can I know (katha thi inosome) this since I am elderly (presbitis) and my wife is advancing in her days (probebikiia imera).” (Luke 1:18)

Zechariah was a theologian, quoting Abraham’s lines. When God promised Abraham that he would bless him, He said,

“My sovereign Lord, ‘How can I know (katha thi inosome) I will inherit these?’” (Gen 15:8)

And when the Angel of the Lord promised that Sarah would be pregnant within a year, the narrator said,

“Abraham and Sarah were elderly (presbitis) and advanced in days (probebikiia imera).” (Gen 18:11)

Zechariah might have been scriptural, but his question lacked faith. So, the Angel of the Lord said,

“I am Gabriel, who stands before God and was sent to speak to you and give you this good news (evangelizo). Behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until these things are fulfilled because you didn’t believe my words which will be filled in those days.” (Luke 1:19–20)

Gabriel wasn’t speaking on his own; he was sent from God’s presence to bring evangelizo “good news” to Zechariah. This verb was a technical word referring to the birth or victory of a king. Here, it included both – the birth of a king’s forerunner and the coming of God’s kingdom, where John would return the Hebrews’ hearts toward God. Since Zechariah didn’t immediately believe but questioned Gabriel’s words, he couldn’t rejoice by talking about his experience or the birth and blessing of a son until it had been fulfilled.

Zechariah was logical and scriptural but lacked faith; he didn’t believe Gabriel’s words. The verb “believe” (pisthevo) comes from the root “unpersuaded” (pitho). He wasn’t convinced what Gabriel said could happen because he was elderly, and Elizabeth was advancing in her years. He wanted to know (“How can I know?”) before something was fulfilled instead of waiting and seeing how God did miracles.

Faith isn’t always logical or scriptural. It is trusting God’s promises, knowing what God promised he would fulfill regardless of how bizarre it might sound to us.

***

* Gabriel’s name is a combination of a verb (gavar) meaning “strength,” a personal pronoun (yi) meaning “my,” and a noun (el) meaning “God.” “God is my strength.”