One of the couples who devoted their lives to the service of God in the scriptures is Elizabeth and her husband. What is the story of Elizabeth’s husband in the Bible, and what can we learn from their lives as followers of Christ? In this article, we will provide answers to these questions, focusing on the important roles of this wonderful couple in the scriptures.
The Story of Elizabeth and Zechariah in the Bible
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Elizabeth’s story appears in the first chapter of Luke in the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron and the cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. She was also the wife of Zechariah, a priest from the tribe of Levi who devoted his life to the service of God during the time of Herod, King of Judea.
Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah were both righteous and blameless in the sight of God. But they didn’t have any children because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in age.
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According to the biblical records in Luke 1:8–9, Zechariah went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense as a part of his duty as a priest. While he was performing his priestly duty in the holy place, the angel Gabriel appeared at the right side of the altar of incense.
The angel of the Lord told Zechariah that God had heard his prayers and his wife Elizabeth would bear a son whom they should name John. In Luke 1:14-17, the angel Gabriel made certain declarations about the unborn child and also gave Zechariah specific instructions about him. He instructed them not to offer him any strong drink, as he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.
Understandably, Zechariah found it difficult to believe that he and his wife Elizabeth can still give birth to a child at an old age. Luke 1:18 records Zechariah’s response to Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, after he delivered his message.
It says, “And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
And the angel told Zechariah that he would not be able to speak until the day God’s promises are fulfilled in his life because of his unbelief.
By the time Zechariah came out of the temple, people were already waiting for him. When the people noticed Zechariah couldn’t speak and was only making gestures to them, they assumed he saw a vision.
Afterwards, Zechariah went back home, and his wife became pregnant, according to the angel’s words. But Elizabeth hid herself from the public for five months, expressing appreciation to God for showing her favor and taking away her disgrace (Luke 1:24-25).
The Story of Elizabeth and Mary
During the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, her cousin Mary went to pay her a visit at her home in the hill country of Judea. Immediately after Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then Elizabeth exclaimed in a loud voice, saying,
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:42-45)
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth lasted for three months before she went back to her home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
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John’s birth is proof of God’s mighty power in the lives of Elizabeth and Zechariah. When it was time for Elizabeth to deliver her baby, she gave birth to a boy, according to the word of the Lord.
Upon hearing what the Lord has done for Elizabeth, her neighbors and relatives came to rejoice with her.
Eight days after the birth of Elizabeth’s son, they wanted to name him Zechariah, his father’s name. But Elizabeth told them to name her baby John since Zechariah wasn’t able to speak yet.
Then the people present questioned Elizabeth about how John came about since none of her relatives have the name. So they made a sign to the father of the child, Zechariah, to know the name he would love to give to his baby boy. Zechariah asked them to give him a writing tablet, and he wrote “His name is John” on it.
Suddenly, Zechariah regained his voice, and he began to speak and to thank God for the miracle. The neighbors who witnessed what the Lord did in the life of Elizabeth and her husband were surprised, and they continued to talk about it throughout Judea.
At that moment, they began to think about the kind of person John would grow up to be because the hand of the Lord was on him. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s miracle baby grew up to become John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ.
3 Lessons from the Story of Zechariah in the Bible
There are several lessons to learn from the story of Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah in the Bible. Let’s discuss 3 important ones.
1. Nothing is Impossible For God
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Although Zechariah and his wife were both old, the Lord blessed them with a child. Biologically, it was impossible for a woman to conceive at an old age because of menopause. Furthermore, it can be difficult for an old woman to carry a baby to full term because her body may have become weak.
But the Lord doesn’t consider biological factors or other factors whenever He wants to perform a miracle in the lives of His children. At the appointed time, the Lord fulfilled His promise to the family of Zechariah by blessing them with a son.
This biblical story teaches us that nothing is impossible for God to do. Whenever we’re facing any challenge that seems difficult to overcome, let’s remember the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Read and meditate on the word of God in Luke 1:37, which says, “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
2. God Rewards Faithful Service
Despite the challenge of childlessness that Zechariah and Elizabeth were going through, they remained faithful to God. Not only were they both righteous and blameless in the sight of the Lord, but Zechariah was committed to the service of the Lord as a priest. Eventually, God rewarded the couple’s faithfulness by making them parents.
Sometimes, it may be difficult for believers to serve God during challenging times. As a true believer, it is your obligation to serve God, whether you’re going through challenges or not.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will always come through when you think all hope is lost. Just continue to live a righteous life and commit to the work of the Kingdom.
Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.”
3. Never Entertain Unbelief
Hebrews 11:1 makes us understand that “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” In other words, just because we’ve not seen the proof of our prayers doesn’t mean we should entertain doubts in our hearts.
Knowing fully well that the message Angel Gabriel delivered to him was from God, Zechariah wasn’t convinced in his heart. As a result, he became mute and was unable to speak until his son John was eight days old.
Unbelief is a sin that can rob us of receiving the blessings that God has promised. So we must never allow the enemy to plant the seed of doubt in our hearts. God is able to do all things for us if only we can trust in Him completely.
Final Thoughts
From the story of Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah, we can learn a lot of valuable lessons that are still relevant today. They both made a great impact in their generation and also played key roles in the mission of the Messiah.
God has been looking for faithful followers who would be useful for the work of the kingdom. There are still many people in several parts of the world who haven’t heard about the gospel of Christ.
Just as Zechariah released himself to be used by God, you can also commit your life to the service of God and humanity. Be assured that the Lord will reward your labor of love when you least expect it.
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
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