It is all too common to make snap judgments based on mere appearance. I do it myself all too often. We make decisions based solely on the way a person dresses, the way they speak and so forth. Sometimes we even use God’s word and/or a teaching we heard as a vehicle to render an inaccurate judgment. We can become a type of “Job’s Comforter”. By that, I mean that we start using scripture to make judgments about a person or their situation before getting to know the person, their problem or circumstances.
In Yeshua’s time, a barren woman, one who was not able to have children, was thought to be suffering under a curse or that the Lord was displeased with them. Though scripture does indeed have references in it about the blessing of having children, we can’t make a blanket statement. Some people have chosen not to have children and for very legitimate reasons. If we were to look strictly at surface clues without getting to know the person, we could easily jump to harsh and incorrect conclusions.
In Luke chapter 1, the scriptures contain an interesting and important point. Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Immerser (Baptizer) had been barren for decades before they gave birth to their only child. It is likely that those around her and possibly Zechariah and Elizabeth themselves thought that they had displeased the Lord for some reason or another. Yet here is what scripture actually records about them:
“In the days of Herod, King of Y’hudah, there was a cohen named Z’kharyah who belonged to the Aviyah division. His wife was a descendant of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. Both of them were righteous before God, observing all the mitzvot and ordinances of ADONAI blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elisheva was barren; and they were both well along in years.” Luke 1: 5-7 (JNT) Bold emphasis added
Others may have believed that the Lord was displeased with them or that they were cursed. Elizabeth and Zechariah may have believed it themselves. Yet the Lord saw otherwise. They were righteous before the Lord and walked before him blamelessly.
We need to look beyond the surface and see people as they actually are: loved of God, redeemed, saved and chosen.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7 NLT)
