PART TWO - ANTICIPATION

By this time in the story, God’s promise of this Redeemer, King, and Savior has been coming for a very long time. However, in God’s book that he wrote for us there is a really big pause between part one and part two. In fact, this pause is for 400 years! For 400 years, God was silent towards His people. There were no more great prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, or Micah as we read about last week. There were no more kings from within God’s people to reign over Israel. Instead, they were ruled by foreign kings. In the midst of this change, God’s people seem to have forgotten about their special and unique relationship with God. When we read this story we have to wonder, is God really going to keep this promise? After all, it is has been so long since he promised a Savior to Adam and Eve, all the way back in the beginning of time. It has been so long since he promised, it seems like he has forgotten all about this!But quickly and suddenly, God breaks his silence to his people. And he breaks His silence in a mighty way! God shows up and communicates to two people: Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah. He tells them through an angel named Gabriel that they are going to have a baby, but not just any baby- a son that would prepare the people of God for the long awaited Messiah and Savior! This is the very son we read about at the end of last week. This baby was to be named John, and he was going to be full of the Holy Spirit, and he would teach and proclaim about this Savior that was to come during his lifetime. God hasn’t given up on his promises after all! He knew all along exactly when he would fulfill this promise, and who He would use to prepare the way. God is a good Father who keeps his promises and who knows exactly what He is doing, even when we have a hard time understanding what He is doing. This week, we will look at the building anticipation as God sets the stage for his promise to finally be fulfilled.