Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.”
The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time. When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak. When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home. Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying, “This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people.” Luke 1:18-25 Common English Bible (CEB)
A baby in old age – remember Abraham and Sarah? (I wonder if Zechariah did.) Zechariah doubts. Did he think “that sort of thing doesn’t happen anymore”?
So since he doubted, not just the angel but God whose message it was, he would be mute until the miracle happened. It seems kind of random, until we remember that the final part of the ritual was pronouncing the Aaronic blessing over the waiting crowd. “The Lord bless thee and keep thee…”
Thus does God interrupt the usual and expected, sending His answer to the nation, the world and the woman. Miracle upon miracle, grace upon grace!
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How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.
