An Unlikely Choice

    Gabriel's second trip to earth in the New Testament was not quite like the first. His first trip made sense.  He went to the Temple, he spoke to a priest in the Holy Place.  This time he was going to Nazareth in Judea of all places.   "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

    Nazareth was an unlikely choice. Wasn't the Messiah to come from Bethlehem, the city of David? Nazareth was anything but royal. They had a reputation. David Guzik notes Nazareth "was a tough town, known for its corruption and low morals."  David Guzik Commentary on the Bible  www.studylight.org

    Mary found the greeting to be unlikely as well.  What did this angel mean, "Greetings, highly favored one! The Lord is with you"? Favored?  I'm from Nazareth!

    And Mary was faced with an unlikely choice.  The angel said she would be with child, a great son, who would be called the Son of the Most High.  Mary understood plainly that the child would not be Joseph's son following their marriage. She understood the risk that Joseph may not go along with the idea of a pregnancy before they married.

    But on the other side of the decision stood a messenger from God, the angel Gabriel. He reminded her that her relative Elizabeth (the barren one) was in her sixth month.  God was already at work to bring his son into the world. Her circumstances were daunting, but "nothing is impossible with GOD."

    And so Mary made the most likely choice.  She agreed with God.  What He wanted for her is what she wanted also.  "I am the Lord's servant."  She chose to walk the path the Lord had laid out before her.  She didn't have all the details and all the answers, but she accepted.

    My prayer for all of us is that we choose to follow the paths the Lord has laid out before us.  We may not see Gabriel but if you look God is going before you, preparing the way.  Your circumstances may be daunting or worse.  Never forget the angel's words of truth,  "For nothing is impossible with God."

    Let's make an obvious choice.  May it be to me as He has spoken.