Waiting … the Storyline

I don’t want to waaaiit!!
Is that really in the script??
I want it NOW!!

Yes, it’s really in the script!
And it is there quite often also!
How long did Noah wait on the ark? 150 days?
How long did Abram wait for a child? 25 years?
How long did Joseph hang out in prison?
How many years did Israel serve Egypt
How long did it take them to get to the promised land?
… and the list could go on. But I’ll stop it here.

Except to tell you, the Christmas story involves waiting.
First, it was waiting for the Messiah to arrive …
.   But in today’s Advent reading (from Advent Journeys), we read how Zechariah and Elizabeth have waited for a child; And they gave up. They really did, because Elizabeth was beyond childbearing years.
.   And Zechariah was ready for retirement. What age do priests retire? Read it in the book. But, know for sure Zechariah was waiting to retire. … Not that he didn’t enjoy his job, he did. But he had reached the age, (what age? Read it in Advent Journeys) to retire.
.   Then on his last day … his very last day … he was CHOSEN! (for what?) To tend the Altar of Incense. That is a once in a lifetime experience. It is a privilege and an honor. And Zechariah the Priest had never, in his long career … in his whole life, had that privilege. He was excited. He was thrilled … he would go out with a bang.

TRUE … he just didn’t know how big that bang would be!!
.   Imagine, being given the once n a lifetime opportunity, on your last day of work! Working as close (remember he was a priest) to the Holy of Holies that any man (except for the High Priest, and that is only once a year) can come. Zechariah would be right next to the presence of God! That is why he was thrilled and excited .. and considered the opportunity, “Going out with a bang!”
.   But it was more! More than Zechariah expected … because an Angel met him there!

(More tomorrow … or read Advent Journeys!)