The object of this study is to take some time out of our busy, often chaotic days and spend some time with women who have gone before us. Not just any women, but 26 women of the Bible. We’ll “Walk Among Them” and see how their stories relate to our lives. It’s my hope that we will discover God’s presence and grace in our own lives as the lives and lessons of these women unfold before us this year.

Walking Among Them, Elizabeth

(Read Luke 1)

Sometimes God shows up when we least expect it. Just ask Elizabeth. Elizabeth is as old as the hills and is, by all accounts, in no condition to bear a child. She comes from a long line of priests and has been married to her husband, Zechariah, for years, and still no child. It just does not seem fair to those who know her. Perhaps, just perhaps, like some of the women we have walked with previously, God had greater plans for this barren woman. After all, we KNOW, God is GOOD, ALL the time. Even when it looks very bleak, all the time, God is GOOD.

We meet Elizabeth in the middle of her story. In fact the beginning of her story is really her husband’s story. Her husband Zechariah had been chosen to offer incense at the Temple sanctuary. It was a big deal…a VERY big deal. At the time there could have been 8,000 priests and a priest could expect to offer incense once or twice in his lifetime. It was Zechariah’s moment. Little did he know what was about to transpire at God’s hand. Then the angel appeared, and as the angels do, it told Zechariah, who was by this time likely terrified, that there was no reason to be afraid.

“Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will give you a son and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many of the Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” Luke 1:13-17

The angel gives Zechariah news that he has longed to hear for decades; his wife is going to have a child. The angel goes into great detail, and even that isn’t enough for Zechariah, who just can not comprehend this news. Just to prove that this is God’s doing, Zechariah is silenced and unable to speak until the child is born. Zechariah leaves the temple unable to speak and returns after his week of service at the temple to his home where Elizabeth is waiting. Indeed, the angel is right, as they always are! Elizabeth becomes pregnant, and instead of questioning, she rejoices in Luke 1:25;

“How kind the Lord is! She exclaimed. He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

I often imagine what it must have been like for Elizabeth to live those nine months without a word from Zechariah.

It was in Elizabeth’s sixth month that the story picks up in Luke 1:26. We learn that Mary is also pregnant. Quite the contrary to Elizabeth, Mary is engaged to be married and is significantly younger than Elizabeth, but they are cousins. Mary visits Elizabeth. It’s one of the most widely read passages in the New Testament. Many scholars speculate that Mary may have been visiting Elizabeth at this time as a way to protect her from the community that could have her killed for becoming pregnant. At that time, it was commonplace for the fiancés family to honor kill the girl, since a bride’s price had been paid by Joseph’s family. (women of the bible.net) Mary made this journey to Judea. This was not an easy journey for a pregnant girl. It likely took her several days to arrive at Elizabeth’s home. This ladies, is when the story becomes miraculous.

“Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaiming to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me. When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed the Lord would do what He said.” Luke 1: 39 – 45

Elizabeth is humbled and honored. She allows the Holy Spirit to flow through her as she exclaims this joy to Mary.

Elizabeth delivers a son, who was named John. The tradition would have had it that his name would have been Zechariah, but Elizabeth insisted that his name was John. Many questioned it saying that there was no one with the name John. Once the child was given his name, Zechariah’s speech returned and he gave the prophetic words in which he told that “his son would be a prophet of the Most High and would prepare a way for the Lord.“(Luke 1: 67- 76)

That is the last we hear of Elizabeth. We know that she is very old at the time of John the Baptist’s birth and likely did not see him grow into manhood. He story ends here, but as we walk with Elizabeth, we imagine for a bit, a woman, with feelings and fears much like our own, and yet a woman with tremendous faith. Elizabeth had the kind of faith that accepted God’s great plans for her life, even when they came at an unlikely time and presented her with completely unexpected results. Elizabeth is a our reminder this week, that “God is GOOD, ALL the time.” God will take the unqualified and qualify them and use them in ways that are unimaginable.

With each woman that we study, I’ll have some thoughts and ideas for reflection, meditation and journaling that will be called “Reflections from the Walk.” It’s in Walking Among Them that we can learn lessons that we can take with us on our daily walks.

Reflections from the walk:

Think for a moment about Elizabeth. Truly imagine that you are walking with this wise woman who has just confirmed that she is carrying a child at this unexpected time in her life. What would you ask her? Would you ask her why she thinks this is happening now? Would you ask her why her husband isn’t able to speak? There are many questions that I would have loved to have asked Elizabeth, the most pressing being, where does your FAITH comes from? Are you the least bit afraid? You are after all, an old woman.

Life begins with women giving life. Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist! God’s greatest plans for her life came at a time that she least expected it. Do you ever feel as if you have missed the timing for God’s plan for your life? Do you ever feel like, God’s greatest plans are meant for someone else and not you? Elizabeth’s story reminds us that God’s plans never cease. God’s plans are HIS plans. God’s plans will be carried out in the unlikely and unqualified among us. I encourage you to open your heart, and pray an honest prayer to God, nothing fancy, just honest, asking God to USE you the way He used Elizabeth. In asking God to use us in however HE needs, is asking Him to use us the way He used Elizabeth. No questions asked just honest submission.

We are told that Elizabeth is “filled with the Holy Spirit” when she speaks to Mary. Do you find yourself “filled with the Holy Spirit?” If yes, when? If no, pray and submit that prayer to God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and ask Him to use you as the vessel in which He can speak to others.

A PDF version of this study is HERE.

Join me next time where we’ll walk with Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Lori is a 5th year homeschool mom to 3. Currently she homeschools an 9th grader, a 7th grader and a 5th grader. Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. It’s in the daily details of life that she is continually inspired! Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.

It must have been an amazing visit between Mary and Elizabeth. As I read these stories and allow them to be more than words on a page, I imagine the encounter between these ladies. What did they eat? What did they talk about afterwards? Did they share other stories? Fears? Expectations? Did they talk about WHAT God was doing through them? Spend some time reflecting on the fact that these two holy women were women just like you and I. They had feelings and passions that we all share. Imagine the time that they spent as “girlfriends.” Do you cherish the time you spend with special female friends or relatives in your life?