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When Mary Left
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And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Luke 1:56
When Gabriel was first speaking to Mary, he told her her cousin Elizabeth was in her six month of pregnancy. Shortly after, in a rush, Mary made her way to Elizabeth’s home. She stayed three months and then left. All the mothers out there are doing the math right now, right? Six months plus 3 months means it’s about time for the baby to be born.
All the things these cousins shared over the past 120 days and nights, all the wonderment surrounding their upcoming babies’ births, was about to become past conversation, for the Lord’s plan had them parting ways at what may have seemed an odd or ill-timed in their own minds. I can’t imagine being with one of my closest friends or family and choosing to leave right as the baby was about to be born. Yet, this we know, God’s ways are not like ours neither are His thoughts.
And so, Elizabeth’s and Zachariah’s lives unfolded just as the prophets, the angel, and the Lord told it would happen.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 66And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
Luke 1:55-66
As God Said it Would Be
Every detail here, through the end of Luke one, actually, tells us John the Baptist’s birth happened just as God said it would be. If we had time, I’d go verse by verse, so I encourage you to go read the rest of the chapter for yourself. God’s Word is so full of richness we can’t afford to skip over.
Mary Left
But it’s the verse that begins the rest of Elizabeth’s birth story I want to pause at today.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Luke 1:56
Mary Left. Following with her obedience and response to all the Lord had given her to this point, we should think she did the same thing here. Obeyed the Lord’s direction.
As women, we can’t make sense of why Mary would desire to leave and miss this miraculous baby’s birth. So, except for the Lord’s prompting, I come up at a loss and with no other logical reason.
When God Moves
This is the big day for my husband and I, the day he ascribes to as even more special over the years than our wedding day. This day, 1987, a few weeks after meeting one another and a few more before saying I Do, we were engaged to be married. In these 33 years, there have been many of our own, when God moves, times. It has been God’s hand leading us toward His will in our lives when it hasn’t made any logical sense otherwise. We have to be careful not to be foolish and to seek God in prayer and other’s for godly wisdom when much is at stake, but like Mary did leaving Elizabeth’s, following God no matter anything else IS what matters.
All things Considered
Considering her own role in all of this, carrying her son Jesus, God’s Son, Jesus, it would make sense that she be present at such a time as this. SO much of God’s plan was about to be put out in public for all to witness, why wouldn’t she be there, too? All things considered, it made no sense to leave except that God must have told her to.
When I met my husband, all things considered, nothing about me being there-and leaving where I was or my life as it was going to that point-made sense. Yet, how I wish I could share so much more; maybe that would be a fun theme for blogging, more of my story-anyway, but suffice to say, God. All God.
All God
I promise you, it was ALL God. I knew it then, I’ve known it all along the way through the hills and valleys in these three plus decades (are there more drastic words for hills and valleys? Use those here, instead.). And, why does It matter anyway? It matters because of all the things, all the stuff that happens in life. It matters because when we follow God, even when His timing, His assignment, His way makes no sense to us, we have the assurance that it is all about Him, and not about ourselves.
Guess what has kept my marriage together over the years? Yep, I know there was no mistaking when I said yes on December 18th, 1987. I know there was no error of God’s will in our lives when we said I Do the following June, 18th. All God.
When God doesn’t Make Sense
It’s a given. God won’t make sense in our lives all the time.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8
And yet we know it’s right and He is good. Whatever He is doing in your life, when it makes no sense, when it’s not what you want-or when you want it, know He is working out HIS good in your life. Even through the pain.
The LORD will fulfill His purpose in me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever–do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Psalm 138:8
Mary left because that was God’s plan for her. Whatever His plan for you, whatever you’re going through right now is part of it. Go to Him. Love Him. Whatever He is taking you through.
Trust the Lord right now.
