5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. 8 Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. 24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

Matthew 1:18-25 - World English Bible

"He who hesitates is lost." That old adage speaks to procrastination, but more deeply to a lack of faith. Such was the case of Zechariah, father to the Baptist.

Zechariah was a member of the Abijah priestly division, a sub-group of priests that traced its lineage to the worship leaders who returned from the Babylonian exile. Being the eighth priestly division, the members of Abijah group served in the Temple twice a year, in April-May or October-November.

During his rotation, Zechariah served at the golden altar of incense, just beside the curtain entrance to the Holy of Holies, the room that contained the Ark of the Covenant, the focal point to the presence of YHWH in the Temple. (Exodus 30:34-38 detailed the law for offering incense at the golden altar.). Like the scent of roasting meat offered in sacrifice to God, the rising aroma of incense represented a prayer oblation, a fragrance pleasing to the Divine.

The angel Gabriel confronted Zechariah during his duties with the Good News; even in their old age, the priest and his wife would have a son. Filled with the Spirit, the boy would be great in the eyes of God and man. Many in Israel would return to the Lord because of his efforts. And, he would stand as an Elijah figure, pointing to the coming Messiah. The message seemed to overwhelm the old man, who was struck dumb for his lack of faith.

This scene stood in stark contrast to another in the Temple, the call of Isaiah, the priestly prophet.

1 In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. 3 One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!”

4 The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.”

8 I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”

9 He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand; and you see indeed, but don’t perceive.’"

Isaiah 6:1-9

Notice the similarities between the two scenes: the presence of YHWH in the Temple, the presence of an angel (or angels) in a worship setting, the smoke (either representing the presence of God or the prayer offering of the people or both), the call to action. Now, notice the main dissimilarity; Isaiah eagerly volunteered to his prophetic mission, while Zechariah hesitated. God gave one the power to speak in his name, while the other had the ability taken away. In both cases, the Lord carried out his will. Isaiah did prophesy, while Zechariah's silence implied he had a divine vision that would be fulfilled in the birth of a son.

Hesitation is not always a bad thing; sometimes it is wise to wait. But we should reflect on our motives once in a while. Do we hesitate to act because we don't have all the facts, or because we don't truly believe?

Do you hesitate out of the ignorance or skepticism?