Gabriel and Zechariah

From Parent Cue ©2021 Parent Cue. All Rights Reserved

Read Luke 1:18-20

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” 19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple, he was scared. He was confused. And he doubted that this could actually happen.

What did the angel say would happen because of Zechariah’s unbelief?

Zechariah would not be able to speak until after his son John was born. A typical pregnancy lasts nine months. That means that Zechariah would be unable to speak for a long time. Zechariah would have to find other ways to communicate with the people around him.

Could you do what Zechariah had to do? The next time you sit down to dinner with your family, see if you can make it through the entire meal without speaking. Even if someone asks you why you’re not speaking, see if you can stay silent until dinner is done. 

After the meal is over, tell your family about this little challenge and about Zechariah. Thank God for the ability to speak and to celebrate because God can do anything!