Believe or Be Struck Mute

Some processes take more time—not because God is rude or because He’s "preparing His better soldiers" as people like to say—but because we don’t fully believe. Or maybe it’s because we believe based on our own capacities and not on God’s. I mean, what is impossible for God?

I am reading Luke and trying to analyze everything, but even in the first chapter, there is so much to unpack. Let’s talk about Zechariah. He was John the Baptist’s father. The Bible says that the angel Gabriel appeared to him with a message from God. However, Zechariah doubted because, from his human perspective, it seemed impossible. The angel told him, "You and Elizabeth (his wife) will have a baby." And Zechariah was like, "What? Are you kidding me? I’m an old man, and my wife is old too!"

Let’s pause for a second and go back to Luke 1:8-9: 8 "Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense."

What was wrong with Zechariah? When I first read this verse in my Spanish Bible, it used the word “sorteo” (lottery). So, I compared other versions, and in English, they all say “lot” or “lottery.” This means Zechariah had access to the temple by coincidence—or rather, by divine providence. He won the lottery, so to speak. He was the favored one that day.

Perhaps he was there out of habit, tradition, or obligation. Maybe he was just there to go to lunch with his friends after the service. But he clearly wasn’t expecting—or perhaps didn’t even desire—to hear from God. Maybe he was simply tired of praying because of his old age.

So, he doubted. Imagine this scenario: you buy a plane ticket for a friend and tell them, "We’re going to the Bahamas!" And they respond, "Are you kidding me? But I have so many debts, it’s winter, and I have to work!" How would you feel? Now imagine Gabriel, delivering a message directly from God, and Zechariah reacts with doubt. What’s wrong with you, Zechariah? You were chosen by lot! You don’t believe? Fine—here’s your reward: you will be struck mute until the miracle happens.

As I looked for more examples, I found the story of Lot’s wife in Genesis 19:17-26. She didn’t believe and was turned into a statue of salt. A salt statue can’t speak.

Then there’s the more dramatic example of the people of Israel, who wandered in the desert for 40 years because they didn’t believe.

So my question for you my friend is, Are you believe?, Are you going to trust next time?, or Are you going to be like Zecharia.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
— John 20:29 (NIV)