January 3, 2024

“Wilderness”

Blessings folk!

A couple of last thoughts related to Zechariah/Elizabeth/John.

Elizabeth rejoiced in prophesying about the babe carried by Mary.
Zechariah prophesied about the babe carried by his wife, Elizabeth.

Read Zechariah’s words again, giving close heed to the last verse.

Luke 1:76-90
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
ESV

John was a prophet of the Most High.
He went before the Lord to prepare the way of the Lord.
He gave knowledge of salvation to his people.
He told them how to receive forgiveness of sins.
He gave light to those who were in darkness and in the shadow of death.
He gave light to guide them.

Then, the last verse.
Very interesting.

What happened between the time that John was born until he began to proclaim the Word of the Lord?
We are told this.
He grew.
He became strong in spirit.
He was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
He was in the wilderness until the Lord called him forth.

John’s parents had likely died long ago…but, we do not know.
Was he in an “monastic” group such as the Essenes in the wilderness?
Likely.
We do not know.

We do know this.
He grew.
He became strong in spirit.
He was in the wilderness.

This is a pattern we see throughout the Word.
Many are they who have “wilderness experience” (training?) before the Lord calls them forth.

Most of us can confirm such in our own lives.
How are we handling the wilderness?

Embrace the Lord.
Grow.

Embrace the wilderness.
Become strong.

Move when He calls you out!

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