On Day 10, we saw Zechariah in the Holy Place burning incense and praying for his nation. He was probably praying with his eyes closed, and then he opened his eyes, and boom, there was an angel standing there at the right side of the incense altar. He’s startled at first because he’s supposed to be in there alone, but upon closer examination, this guy is really powerful and scary looking. He’s more than startled, he’s terrified now. Gabriel tells him not to be afraid, then goes into his message. You, Zechariah, will have a son, you are to name him John, and he will bring joy and delight to not just you but lots of people. He will be great in the sight of the Lord, and then he tells him the big deal about John. He’s not going to be some ordinary kid.
“He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:11-17 (NLT)
For John not to take wine or other fermented drink means that he is called to be a Nazarite, as described in Numbers 6:2. Many people would make a Nazarite vow for a period of time, but John is to be specially consecrated to God for his whole life. Not only that, but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb. He will be all of this because he has a huge job to do. John’s mission would be to prepare the hearts of the people of Israel for their Messiah by bringing them back to the Lord their God.
Before I go into the next thing said about John, I want to say it blows my mind how God told His prophet about his life 700 years before John was born, then he told Zechariah before he was even conceived all about the life he would live and the things he would do, and they happen just as God says!
Okay, back to the story. Let’s look back 400 years to the prophet Malachi and the last things said by God at the end of the Old Testament.
“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6 (NLT)
Sound familiar? God speaks this, then is silent for 400 years. Now, he’s saying it again about this baby that is about to be conceived and brought into the world. Jesus confirms in Matthew 11:14 and 17:12 that John came in the power of Elijah just as it was foretold. Definitely not an ordinary child sent to bring Zechariah and Elizabeth joy in their old age. No, he was coming to prepare the way of the Lord but will bring joy while he’s doing it.
Today’s truth is that God knows the details of time from beginning to end. He knows everything about our lives before we ever live one minute, and He’s right there, active in the midst of it. We can trust Him with the outcome.
Debbie's Perspective 
Another mind blowing revelation!