Elisabeth – A Woman of Faithfulness

Introduction

Isn’t it the truth that although we may be so familiar with the word of God (the Holy Scriptures) and the things that He desires us to abound in, we very often need to be reminded and prompted as we go on in the faith of Messiah Yeshua?   Peter the Apostle of Yeshua speaks of this in his second letter where, following an exhortation to diligence in the faith he wrote:

 “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things though you know and are established in the present truth.  Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Messiah showed me.  Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminded of these things after my decease.” (2 Peter 1:12-15)

This discussion on Elisabeth is an opportune reminder for us to take heed to ourselves concerning our faithfulness to God and in the things of God, particularly where we may feel weary in a work, or circumstances or a position where we have seen little or no fruit.  At times, such things can act to hinder our view of God in control and at work and this can begin to affect our faithfulness towards Him in our service, our worship, our obedience and our attitude.  As we consider a few thoughts on Elisabeth may we know God’s encouragement through the ministry of His Holy Spirit inwardly in timely grace where most needed.

 

Overview on Elisabeth

In the Bible we come to learn that many names have a special importance in their meaning concerning the character or personality of the person to whom they are given and often there is something to learn or observe and consider in those names.  There is no greater example than the Name of Yeshua – not only does this Name mean Salvation, but it is also the very nature of the Man to whom it was given, who is Messiah, our Lord and Saviour, the Son of the Living God.

The name Elisabeth is said to originate from the Hebrew name Elisheba which means ‘God Is An Oath’ (Strong’s), an interesting point as we consider what we can learn through her.

Please take a moment to read and consider Luke 1:5-45; 57-80 – focusing on Luke 1:6

From the above reading, we learn that:

• Elisabeth was a daughter of Abraham, of Israel and specifically of the tribe of Levi, a direct descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses (Luke 1:5);
• she was a wife, married to a priest named Zacharias, also of the tribe of Levi;
• her character was that of a godly and righteous woman, ‘walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord’ (Luke1:6);
• she was barren for all her “fertile” years (Luke1:7) and we are introduced to her as a woman ‘well advanced in years’ (Luke 1:18) and ‘in her old age’ (Luke 1:36);
• she lived for many years with a sense of personal disgrace for being unable to bear children (Luke 1:25) and one can perhaps imagine her having feelings of being a disappointment to her husband in not being able to give him children (consider Luke 1:14)
• the Lord blessed her in enabling her to conceive a son in old age who was set apart in her womb for the purposes God (Luke 1:13-17; 57) – an interesting parallel with Sarah, the wife of Abraham can be seen here.
• she and the babe in her womb were both filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41);
• she was used by God to confirm His word to her young relative Mary, the chosen vessel of God to bring forth the Saviour (1:39-45) and thus encourage her in her trust in God as ‘His maidservant’ (Luke 1:38);
• the birth of her son John was a time for rejoicing not only for Elisabeth and Zacharias but also their relatives and neighbours (Luke 1:58) who must have shared in their sadness over the years. It would also be a time of joy for Israel as Elisabeth’s son grew and went on to fulfil the ministry he was set apart for as “the prophet of the Highest” (Luke 1:76), commonly known as John the Baptist.

Elisabeth, her husband and son –  considered together –  paint a wonderful ‘portrait’ of the workings of God’s grace, mercy and faithfulness framed by the fortress of the sovereignty of God.   Her husband’s name Zacharias in Hebrew is Zkaryah and this means Jah Has Remembered (Strong’s).  We have considered the meaning of Elisabeth’s name above.   Her son was named by God as John.  The Hebrew form of John is Jochanan which comes from or is the same as the name Yehochanan which means “the LORD has been gracious” (Strong’s).  The LORD God had certainly remembered His oath to be gracious to Israel and through them to all nations in and through His Son Yeshua (Genesis 12:3b).

She who was the relative of Mary who would herself bring forth the Messiah, would also be as a type of “fore-runner” – an encouragement through demonstration – to Mary of the power and purpose of God for Israel.  Her barrenness, the very thing that had caused her to live with a sense of reproach and the life that God caused to spring forth from it is pointed to the faithfulness of God to His word to visit His people Israel.

Just as God had not forgotten His promise to Israel – despite the pro-longed spiritual barrenness of no word from God for a period traditionally believed by many to be approximately 350-400 years from the time of His prophet Malachi until His word came through Elisabeth’s son John – the Lord graciously weaved the thread of Elisabeth’s barrenness into the tapestry of His master plan of redemption for all who would turn to the God of Israel.

 

Elisabeth’s Legacy

As we look back on the snapshots of her life, a significant point we might consider is that we are introduced to her in her later years.  The sadness and sense of reproach she likely felt inwardly concerning being barren was something she carried for many years yet, she maintained the testimony of righteousness and obedience to God in His sight (Luke 1:6).   It would not be surprising if over the years, she had come to a settled acceptance that this was just the way it was going to be and looked for and filled her life with works that were pleasing to God.  How was she to know that it was not the end of her story!

Her barrenness could be considered as having turned out to be a blessing in disguise at various levels.  Had she had children in her fertile years, she would have undoubtedly rejoiced but how much richer must her rejoicing have been in having a child when all hope had vanished!  Not only was she going to be having a child, but this child would grow up to serve the Lord according to the angel Gabriel’s message to Zacharias.  Further and so much deeper , this godly woman would know the significance of this baby – that the time of the Messiah, the Shepherd and Redeemer of Israel was near, and salvation was at hand (Luke1:42-45, 68-79).  What a blessing and a joy to her it must have been to be one of the very first to greet Mary and to rejoice with her concerning the “good news” – the Gospel – she carried!  One can only imagine what conversations took place that day!

So, what are Elisabeth’s “legacy-gifts” for us?  One of the primary gifts brought through her is the precious encouragement to continue in faithfulness to God in light of His faithfulness to us in the outworking of His sovereign will.  Let us consider this gift in two parts:

God Is In Control!

Elisabeth’s story brings many precious jewels concerning the sovereignty of God which we can take up, consider and hold on to, not in our hands where we might drop it (in other words, not just in our heads) but in a safe but prominent place where we can see it clearly.  There is no safer place than in a heart at rest in that place we know to be faith – faith in God.  Consider then:

God’s Sovereignty Over Time and Timing.

As we consider Elisabeth’s story, we can see that God does not do anything on a whim – there are no such things as “just coincidences” with God.  As we considered in Lynne’s discussion on Esther (see Esther – A Woman Used by God – Selah – with me), God’s providence is always at work – at times by itself and at other times alongside the amazing display of other miraculous workings of God.   Our Lord Yeshua said that John the Baptist, Elisabeth’s son, was the Elijah who was to come (Luke 7:24-27; Matthew 11:14), according to God’s word through His prophet Malachi (Malachi 4:5-6 – which incidentally is a prophecy with a double fulfilment – consider for example Gabriel’s words to Zacharias at Luke 1:17).  We see in Elisabeth that her barrenness continued on into her old age and we are reminded of the “spiritual barrenness” of no word from God to Israel as to the promised salvation for that extended period between Malachi and John – (consider the words of Amos at ch.8v11).  God was in control of that time period and the timing of the next step in His plan. He was watching over His people Israel all the while.  I’m reminded just now of the words of Psalm 121:3-4: ‘He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.’

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he wrote:

 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption as sons.
(Galatians 4:4-5)

God’s hand was also upon the timing of the birth of Elisabeth’s son John who would go before her Lord, Yeshua the Son of God to prepare His way and thus effectively also determined when Elisabeth’s barrenness would end.

We can take encouragement from this into our own lives as we wait on God for the desires He has put in our heart in both eternal things as well as the temporal.  Whether they are, for example:

• the waiting for a work of grace to be completed in us where we are struggling in the call to walk in holiness and righteousness before God – or any other area we recognise the struggle is in following Lord Yeshua;
• the waiting to see His kingdom established in the hearts of unbelieving loved ones in family and those we seek to share the gospel with;
• the waiting for a door to be opened for ministry in His word;
• the waiting for the end of that extended trial of sorrow, pain or loneliness;
• the waiting on a family or social or business development;
• the waiting for the fulfilment of all things and the promised heavenly rest;

Every second in all that pertains to us is in God’s hands as to duration and timing of its end.  In all things, we are encouraged to believe and say, along with David:

 “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God”.  My times are in Your hand;”

(Psalm 21:14-15a)

God’s Sovereignty over Circumstances.

When we speak of “sovereignty” we speak of God’s rule over all as God and therefore by right, majesty and all-mighty power before which no other power can stand.

Consider – that God could have chosen to use any set of circumstances to cause the conception and birth of John – yet He did not.  One can imagine that in a culture where having children mattered (see e.g., Psalm 127:3-5), being childless was an acutely painful situation to bear.  Yet we see in the account of Elisabeth that she viewed God as being sovereign over her and the circumstances of her life (Luke 1:25).  Even though God, who is All-Powerful could have taken away this sorrow, He chose not to and knowing this, her heart remained right before God in it (consider again Luke 1:6).

There is a difference between knowing that God is sovereign over us together with the circumstances of our lives and genuinely resting in that knowledge. It is, therefore, beneficial for us to learn to make peace with that fact in those things we would rather change and not have to face or go through.  We can know whether we have truly made that peace with it by examining before Lord Yeshua where our heart position is in a matter which frustrates, irritates, confuses and bruises us; that in the light of the truth that there is no power that can stand before the power of Almighty God and therefore He has allowed the circumstances, or has allowed it to remain and that He may allow it to remain a while longer, is there a settled acceptance of the will of God for me at the present time?

One other point we might prayerfully consider in what may feel as a struggle with God’s sovereignty in circumstances of difficulty  is this: there are circumstances and then there are choices, with differing consequences following.  The two are sometimes mutually exclusive – separate and different. As I believe this will mean different things for different people, I trust the Holy Spirit will speak to each one for whom this may be relevant and therefore there is no need for further comment on it.

God’s Sovereignty over Ways and Means.

Closely related to the above is the ways of God in His purposes in and for the circumstances in our lives.  Unless the Lord reveals this to us, we are never going to know or fully grasp this.  If life has not yet taught us so that we really get this – that there are some things we go through for which we will never find out the whys in this life, it soon will.  Sometimes we just have to get over it – and ourselves!  We can of course bring it to God but in the end we must leave it in His hands completely – whether to reveal or whether to withhold why He chose a particular way or means to accomplish His will in us and for us and through us.  Most of us will be very familiar with that which the Lord has declared through His prophet:

“..My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways……
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:8-9)

We ought therefore to have a settled trust that God will direct us all the way Home and use His best means to get us there.  Not only us, but all who are presently outside His kingdom but are also part of those God foreknew would enter in through faith in Yeshua and repentance towards God, both now and in the times to come.

Let us then consider these things in ourselves and make certain, so far as we are able by the grace of God, that in our hearts an irrevocable decision to trust AND rest in the truth that God is truly in control.  Why?

• that in the difficult things that now are and those ahead which we and/or our brethren around the world may face, the eyes of our faith may be firmly fixed on who our God is and His revealed plan of salvation;
• that as we DAILY see more and more evil and darkness unleashed as we move nearer to the end of all things, the eyes of our faith may be firmly fixed on who our God is and His revealed plan of salvation;
• that as we see more spiritual deception and deal with the fall-out of this in those we care about, and even in ourselves, the eyes of our faith may be firmly fixed on who our God is and His revealed plan of salvation;
• that in “the losses and crosses” instead of becoming blind-sided, the eyes of our faith may be firmly fixed on who our God is and His revealed plan of salvation;
• that in times of “enforced rest” and “waiting seasons”, the eyes of our faith may be firmly fixed on who our God is and His revealed plan of salvation;
• that in the times we feel the narrowness of ‘the narrow gate’ (Matthew 7:13), the eyes of our faith may be firmly fixed on who our God is and His revealed plan of salvation;
• that we may rest in truth that even from before the foundation of the world, God had a plan of salvation (see e.g., Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20, Revelation 13:8) and every believer – including you and I – not only is a part (see e.g., Ephesians 1:4) but HAS a part in God’s plan unfolding in His time and His way;
• that not only do we know that God is control, but we might also grow more confident in God and His enabling power by which we may be able to take bolder steps of faith concerning the purposes of God and His kingdom.

It is a mighty key to walking in faithfulness in obedience to God and His calling to believe upon His Son, Lord Yeshua continuously, looking to the things unseen through eyes of faith (see e.g., 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:7 – [this has so encouraged me recently]).

Continuing on in faithfulness

In the little we are given in the Scriptures concerning Elisabeth for the purpose of this discussion, the significant point is that she, being barren, was well advanced in years and marked out as ‘righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Luke 1:6).  I believe it can be said that she was a woman who was faithful in obedience to God and who rested in the absolute sovereignty of God over her life.  Consider her words again at Luke 1:25 during her pregnancy: “Thus the Lord has dealt with me…”  Although only supposition, I believe Luke 1:6 suggests that had she not been used by the Lord as His vessel to bring forth His prophet, had the Lord not opened her womb,  it would not have altered her service and obedience to God.  She would have still been faithful – just as we are exhorted to be, whatever our lot.

Few people would not understand what it means to be faithful but let us take a moment to consider what it means to be faithful to God in our obedience, worship and service before Him.

There are five ordinary (secular) dictionary definitions which may be helpful to our personal considerations of our faithfulness to God and the things that God has called us to.  These are:

• Thorough in the performance of a duty.
• True to one’s word.
• Steady in allegiance, constant, loyal.
• Reliability, trustworthiness and believable.
• Adhering to a standard – namely God’s.

A biblical understanding of the faithfulness looked for by God is never far throughout the Scriptures and one such example can be found at 1 Samuel 2:35, where the Lord God rebuking Eli the priest says:

  “..I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. …”

The voice of God to His beloved children whom He has washed in the blood of His Son Yeshua the Messiah is never one of condemnation but of conviction and/or loving correction that we may come to Him who loves us freely, even when we fall short and know contrition.  If we know a conviction in our hearts concerning any area in our lives, rather than fall in the I’m-such-a-terrible-person trap – the Lord knew that already when He saved us, so we had better get over it – we can turn to God without delay and re-dedicate ourselves to be more earnest in faithfulness to His call on our lives.

Where does faithfulness to God, faithfulness in God and to the things which God has called us to and to the people God has put in our lives arise from?  Perhaps we can do no better than to consider afresh what is given for us to receive at Matthew 22:37-40:

“Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hand all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

Conclusion

Elisabeth was a woman of advanced years who had walked in obedience and fear of the Lord probably all her life and so has her faithfulness affirmed to us by the word of God, as we saw at Luke 1:6.    She was also a recipient of the faithfulness of God in the outworking of His sovereign will concerning drawing His people in readiness for the salvation which was to come to the whole world.  Just as her physical barrenness highlighted Israel’s spiritual barrenness so the intervention of the Lord to reverse it speaks of the grace that was to come to Israel – and will come again – for the complete reversal and salvation of Israel.  It is not only for Israel that God poured out His grace through giving His only begotten Son, Yeshua the Messiah but also whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  God’s grace goes so much further than we can know and its greatness is such that, as has been said, it is always crowned with glory.

Perhaps the Lord may yet have a specific plan, purpose or calling for us as women in the furthering of His kingdom.  Perhaps the Lord’s will may be that we live out our faith in the ordinary things of everyday life, allowing His light to shine in our own little corner.  Whatever His will for us, we need only be faithful to Him in the circumstances which He has allowed and God will do the rest as we, through His Spirit, seek to worship, trust and obey Him.  There are many forms of barrenness that can be experienced in life but God in His time, by His means and through His way can still do the unexpected.  Scripture teaches us that Elisabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke these words of encouragement to Miriam (Mary) of Nazareth:

“ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things

which were told her from the Lord.”

(Luke 1:45)

May it be a word of encouragement to you too.

God bless you.