Luke 1:34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The rhetorical question is an expression of disbelief, confusion and astonishment. It is a statement of surprise that reechoes doubts. Mary’s response was not necessarily a wrong question but a rhetorical communication of the numerous logical discourses that bombarded her mind.
Most times, God’s prophetical Word and promises over our lives will first strike us with jeopardy before they excite us with joy. Our human mind is wired to go to the analytical reasoning and medical possibilities before we can refocus on God’s mighty power over the impossibility. Rhetorical questions are not bad but if we are stuck on those questions they will lead to doubt and disbelief. Focus on God’s omnipotence and not on human understanding.
Mary initially struggled to understand the prophecy hence blurted out her mind. Yet, when Gabrial reassured her that the power of the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, she received the promise in faith. Mary had no precedent to refer to. Sarah who conceived her promised son at 90 years, Rebeccah who had twins after 20 years of married life or Hannah who waited indefinity before she could have children, did not conceive as Mary did. Yet, she took the Word of God as is and became pregnant with the promise.
We have to become pregnant with the promise before we can give birth to the prophecy. We would conceive a promise in the womb of our heart when we repeat, revisit and ruminate over the rhema word/promise that was given for a specific situation.
Rhetorical Questions:
- Receive: Mary surrendered to God’s will and received a prophecy that she could not even comprehend. Surrender to God’s will even if you don’t understand.
- Repeat: Repetition is not mere memorization; it is meditation that transforms the Word into flesh within the womb of the heart. Once we are pregnant with the Word, we must revisit it every day or several times a day. Repeat the promise until it sinks into the heart.
- Ruminate: As we ruminate over the Word, day after day, we will soon go into labour and give birth to the prophecy!
“We have to become pregnant with the promise before we can give birth to the prophecy.”
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
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