She was a descendant of the honored priestly line of Aaron (Moses' brother) and married to a priest named Zechariah. Luke tells us they lived honorably before God and were careful to keep the commandments. They were good people and enjoyed a clear conscience. Even with her heritage and commendable virtues, Elizabeth lived with shame. She had no children and was well past her childbearing years, in a society where a woman's value was largely measured by her ability to produce children. People looked at her and thought she must have been cursed by God. Maybe she thought it, too.
But God performed a miracle.
As the Bible story goes, during Zechariah's turn at serving in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to tell him that his prayer was heard and that Elizabeth would have a son. We don't know whether it was a recent prayer or maybe one he'd given up on. But the angel told him he would be a father.
After this startling prediction, Gabriel went on to say that they were to name the baby John and that he would achieve great stature with God, being filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he was born.
It was not long before Elizabeth did indeed find herself expecting a child. Six months into her pregnancy, a soon to be famous relative came to visit her - Mary, who was pregnant with the long awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Luke writes that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby leaped within her womb. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and sang out, "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the babe in your womb. Why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me?"
Elizabeth was the first woman to proclaim the Savior in the flesh.
Elizabeth had a son. We know him as John the Baptist. He turned many of the people of Israel to God and spent his life for one purpose - to announce the coming of the Savior.
Elizabeth's name means "God is my oath" or "a worshiper of God." She waited for her prayer to be answered and endured persecution. Many of us might become bitter and angry when weathering lesser trials. But through her many childless years, years of longing, disappointment and unanswered prayer, Elizabeth remained faithful to the God she trusted. She was rewarded for her devotion. God always rewards His children according to His plan and His timetable.
