Bible Stories for the Young
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As the days went by, Zechariah realized that he had been very foolish to doubt that God could give Elizabeth a baby. God is El Shaddai — the Lord God Almighty-Mighty-Mighty!
After nine long months of waiting, finally Elizabeth had their baby boy! Everyone was so amazed and joyful that too-old Elizabeth now had a baby!
Since Zechariah still couldn’t talk, the leaders just decided they would name the child Zechariah, after his dad. But Elizabeth spoke up and said, “No, his name is John.”
But they said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.” And they motioned to Zechariah asking him what the baby’s name should be. So, Zechariah got a writing tablet and scratched out: “His name is John.”
As soon as Zechariah wrote that… his tongue was set free, free, free. And the very first thing he did was praise God.
He said, “Praise the Lord because He has come to help His Children, and given them free, free, freedom. He’s given us a powerful Rescuer from the family of David, just like He said He would through His prophets a long time ago. He said He would give mercy and remember His Agreement. God promised Abraham, our father, that He would save us from the power of our enemies so we could serve Him without fear, being Holy and good before God as long as we live.”
Then he turned his eyes to this beautiful child in his hands and said, “John, my child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go before the Lord to clear the way and get people ready to hear Him. You will make His People know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. Because of God’s tender mercy a new day will dawn. God’s sun will rise in the sky to shine, shine, shine on people sitting in darkness! To those in death’s shadow, it will give Heaven’s light! And that Light will Lead our feet onto a road of peace.”
