UNFULFILLED DREAMS

John, the Baptist's mother Elizabeth, had a dream. She may have dreamt the same dream for many, many years - maybe twenty years or even more, for in those days women married at a very young age. Her unfulfilled dream was to have a child of her own.

The years passed. I am sure that, being from a priestly family, a direct descendant of Aaron, and being married to a priest, Zacharias, she would have mentioned this dream to God in her prayers many times; perhaps on a daily basis. We do not know exactly how old she was. the Bible merely states that:

         "But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well
          advanced in years." Luke 1:7

However, as Zacharias was still ministering as a priest, we may assume that he was not yet fully fifty years old.

I wonder how, in those days, they knew that it was Elizabeth that was barren? I wondered if the thought of trying to conceive a child by someone other than Zacharias ever entered her mind? We know she never resorted to such devious tactics, because the Word says:

         "And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances
         of the Lord blameless." Luke 1:6

How much would this unfulfilled dream have affected Elizabeth's life? Worst case scenario: she might have felt that life was not worth living; the thought of suicide might even have formulated in some obscure corner of her mind.

She might have been resentful towards God at times for not answering her prayers, and for being barren and childless. She might have harbored some resentment against her husband. We will learn from Scripture that he, too, desired a child and made supplication to God in this regard.

She might have been filled with jealousy at times when friends and relatives were around with their children romping and playing in her presence.

She might have felt shame at not being able to give Zacharias a child. She most probably felt let down, disappointed, inferior to her friends and female relatives who had produced offspring; lonely, unfulfilled, with no child on which to lavish her maternal love and care.

She certainly might have been sad at times, weepy, depressed.

Yet, if we reread verse 6 this did not cause her to sin.

She might have questioned God as to why her prayers were not answered. She might have wondered if perhaps her faith was not strong enough.

Yet, we find, as we read further that, in fact, it was Zacharias, the priest, whose faith was lacking:

          "But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take
           place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own
          time." Luke 1:20

In those days, one of the duties of a priest, a duty which was drawn by lot, was to stand to the right side of the altar of incense in the temple, burning incense and interceding before God on behalf of the people. As the priest's appearance before the altar of incense was not determined by a schedule of duty, but by lot, it may perchance be that he performs this duty but once during all the years of his priestly ministry.

The Lord was greatly feared and appearing before Him on behalf of a people you knew to be stiff-necked was therefore a great responsibility and done at some risk to your life. God, being provoked, might smite the priest to reveal His anger towards the people.

We read in verse 10 that the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Watching and waiting to see whether he will survive the presence of Almighty God.

This then was no ordinary occasion for Zacharias. It was a moment of great responsibility and he was probably experiencing a certain amount of nervous anticipation. It was a defining moment in his life during which he would have been very much aware of his vulnerability before the Lord.

Yet we find that God chooses this moment to reveal his love and awareness of the unfulfilled dream shared by Zacharias and Elizabeth. He sends not just any angel, but the archangel Gabriel, with the long awaited answer to prayer:

        "And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of
        God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings." " Luke 1:19

         "...Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will
         bear you a son, and you shall call his name John..." Luke 1:13

Zacharias finds the words spoken by the angel too good to be true! He doubts and becomes mute. Not only was he to be mute, but he did not know how long this condition would last, as the angel never revealed when Elizabeth would become pregnant. Yet, from Scriptures, it would seem that it happened almost as soon as he got home.

          "So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own 
           house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived..." Luke 1:23-24.

A gift only God could bestow. A dream only God could fulfill.

Do you have a barren area in your life? Do you have a dream that is long overdue? I have three of them. I have nurtured two of them for the last twenty years...I do not know whether God will ever grant me even one of them, but I choose to believe that God will - in His own time...

           "But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard...
            And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth." " Luke 1:
            13-14

Today I choose to believe that I will experience joy and gladness, and that many will rejoice with me as my dreams are fulfilled.

            "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace
             and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jer. 29:11

Thank You, Lord, that we do not need to despair if we have unfulfilled dreams - we choose to hold onto them in faith and believe Your Word instead.