“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” – Luke 1:5-7
Luke begins his Gospel by grounding the story of Jesus in real history. He introduces us to Herod, Judea, Zacharias, and Elizabeth, reminding us that the Bible is not myth but truth rooted in names, places, and times. Herod the Great ruled over Judea, a land stretching from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea, while Zacharias and Elizabeth, both of priestly descent, were described as righteous before God yet childless in their old age. What seemed like divine disfavor was actually the stage being set for God’s miraculous plan. Luke shows us that God’s work unfolds with precision and purpose, even when circumstances appear barren.
This theme echoes throughout Scripture. Abraham and Sarah faced barrenness, yet God promised them a son through whom nations would be blessed. Hannah wept bitterly before the Lord, and He gave her Samuel, who became a prophet to Israel. In each case, God worked through real people in real places, turning seasons of emptiness into testimonies of His faithfulness. Luke’s careful detail reminds us that God’s plan is not random—it is intentional, and He uses ordinary lives to accomplish extraordinary purposes.
The call to us today is to trust God in our own seasons of waiting or barrenness. Just as Zacharias and Elizabeth discovered, God’s timing is perfect, and His plan is unfolding even when we cannot see it. When life feels empty or delayed, remember that He is weaving your story into His greater plan. Open your heart to His Word, remain faithful in prayer, and believe that He is at work. God’s plan is precise, purposeful, and personal—and He is writing it through your life right now.
“Zacharias and Elisabeth were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless; yet they had no child. This affliction was sent to magnify the mercy of God in the birth of John, and to show that His purposes are carried out not according to human expectation, but according to His sovereign will.” – Matthew Henry
surrendered devotions 