Mary was a poor, young, uneducated teenager who was chosen for the assignment of assignments. She was an unlikely candidate who made herself available to God.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Gabriel was sent to Mary.
“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…” Luke 1:30-32
The news was wonderful! Yet at the same time, the consequences of Mary’s obedience were possibly traumatic.
- First of all, she was engaged. In that culture an engagement was equal to marriage minus the ceremony and consummation. To break an engagement would have required a divorce. How in the world was she supposed to tell Joseph that she was pregnant? And of all things – God did it? How was he supposed to believe that? Saying yes to God meant possibly losing Joseph. And remaining unmarried for the rest of her life.
- Losing her dream wedding that she was certainly in the throws of planning with her mother –
- Being shunned by her family. Therefore being forced into prostitution or begging to earn a living.
- She risked being killed.
- She risked losing her friends. Why would anyone want to be friends with a harlot?
- She risked losing her good name and reputation. The whispers would become, “She isn’t as sweet as we thought now is she?” She would endure stares and whispers for the rest of her life if she stayed in Nazareth.
Yet Mary’s answer to the angel was not, “Let me think about it,” or “Let me pray about it.” It was:
“I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)
Mary trusted God with the consequences of obedience. I wish I were equally as quick.
Will we trust God when He says, “forgive,” even though the person has not asked for forgiveness. Or when God says, “Submit to your husband” – even though you want to insist on your way. Or when He asks us to step out of our comfort zone and do something we’ve never done before…
Will we trust Him to be BIG ENOUGH to handle the consequences of our obedience? Mary did.
And the first thing God did was provide SOMEONE who could understand her belief in the impossible- Elizabeth!
I have failed so many times when the Lord asks me to go against my selfish desires. We as women can learn so much from this one woman and her obedience.