Mysty Pfeffer“After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, Thus, the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Luke 1:24-25
I can’t help but wonder how a woman in advanced age would feel about not meeting her husband’s expectations. Years of waiting and hope are met with no results, yet she is still admired and cherished. She must be proud he has been chosen, by God, to go into the most Holy place, a high honor for his priestly service.
I get this sense of affection and high regard for one another when I read the account of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke chapter one. The text describes their genealogy and how they are “both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.” (Luke 1:5-7).
“What do they say about me? Are those whispers pity for my inability to conceive?” are some questions Elizabeth may have asked herself as time passed with her beloved Zechariah. The two of them are very aware of the culture’s expectations. They lived in a time where her value as a woman depended on giving her husband a son and keeping their home.
The aching lack of producing a child gave her a sense of defeat and shame. Although barrenness was often attributed to some hidden sin or flaw in this agrarian culture, we know this is not true of her in Lukes’s description (Adalmen, 2021). Watching, and perhaps helping, women bring their children into the world through the years brings a bittersweet experience into deeper reflection.
However, this couple’s relationship is solid. Zechariahs’ doubt about the angel’s promise ends in speechlessness. He finds comfort in Elizabeth’s arms and the promise comes to life!
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five moths she kept herself hidden, saying “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Luke 1:24-25
Reproach among her people is Elizabeth’s perception of herself as she reflects on the miracle within her. Her statement echoes that of Rachel as she bore her firstborn, Joseph. Her “reproach” had been removed as well. The longed-for baby happening now in Elizabeth’s advanced years removes the disappointment of barrenness.
But can she grasp the intense reason of this new life, at this time in history? His purpose and the special instruction given to raising him without any impurity is clear. Knowing from the angel, Gabriel, that “many will rejoice at his birth, he will be great before the Lord, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,” even in the womb, is a longed-for treasure (Luke 1:14-15)!
Awe and appreciation for the Lord fill her in this time of blessing that removes her perceived shame. She is aware of the proverb,
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life (Prov 13:12).
The most beautiful desire of the heart is to know and be known by our Lord. Although she didn’t fully experience being known during her infertility, she feels it now as sure as she feels the child moving within her.
Oftentimes, we lose sight of our position with him in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6) because our focus is on what we don’t have here on earth. The continual battle in our mind revolves around the desires of our flesh. We, like Elizabeth, long for the approval of others and to bestow the fullness of our love onto another without risk.
I believe our perception of what people think of us is based on our unmet expectations in life. It is often skewed as we project our own disappointment on another’s thoughts of us. We see Elizabeth’s intuition meet the truth of her actual status in her neighbors’ and relatives’ eyes as they rejoice with her at John’s birth (Luke 1:58).
They’ve been rooting for her all along.
My strong sister, I bet your close friends and relatives are too! So, if this truth helps relieve some pressure to preform today, take it to heart. God may have another plan for your life that is more fulfilling.
He may even prolong the dream until you realize your value as a woman has nothing to do with bearing children or being accepted by many. It has everything to do with being filled with the Holy Spirit and living in humility. Elizabeth’s joy and humbleness in greeting Mary is contagious:
“Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord (Luke 1:43,45).
Desire satisfied is indeed, a tree of life.
It is also a heart-filling moment in scripture to accept and receive today as an example of biblical womanhood and a devoted couple. Zechariah did not cast her aside but remained committed and intimate. May you and I boldly hold onto our relationships as cherished reward as well. In them, we learn how to please our Savior.
References:
Adalmen, Rachel (June 23, 2021) “Barren Women in the Bible” The Jewish Women’s Archive
