Double for your Trouble: Best of Both Worlds
“He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born” Luke 1: 15b.
This passage picks up the discourse between an unnamed angel and Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. The angel tells him of the son he and his wife Elizabeth will have in their old age.
To read the passage for context, click here.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that in the same breath, the angel told Zechariah that John must not drink alcohol and that he would be filled with the Spirit.
Do Not Get Drunk; But Be Filled
Ephesians 5: 18 tells us “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. . . ” Again, I don’t think it’s an accident that the two thoughts are mentioned together.
Every spiritual phenomenon has a natural counterpart. And wine (or other alcohol), is a natural way to get what the Holy Spirit gives: “Rejoicing with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” 1 Peter 1: 8.
John was forbidden to use what people without the Holy Spirit use to escape their problems. And find peace and joy. That’s because he would have the spiritual means to these things.
And I think there’s another, related spiritual principle here to. When we don’t have access to the wine and strong drink of life- those things that make for a good and happy life, we do have access to the Holy Spirit.
What I mean is this: If we didn’t come from a functional family, or don’t have a happy marriage or health or financial provision, we do have access to the Holy Spirit.
And He is able to fill us with peace and joy in the midst of our struggles. And more than make up for the lack, in due time.
He Will Give You Double for your Trouble
He is able to give us more in the end than we would’ve had we not experienced the trouble.
When the Israelites didn’t have food and water in the wilderness, they got spiritual provision instead. In the form of manna from heaven and water from the rock (Deuteronomy 8: 15, 16).
This was a much greater blessing than mere natural physical provision. Because they would have all the natural, physical provision they ever wanted or needed once they got to Canaan.
But now, they would also have the glorious testimony of how the Lord supernaturally provided for them in the desert.
He Fills the Hungry with Good Things
Luke 1:53 tells us “He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty”.
Those who are rich, who have access to physical, natural provision to meet their needs don’t need God to do it.
But the “hungry” who have gotten the short end of the stick in life are the ones who do look to God to meet their needs.
Because they have no choice.
And God fills them with good things.
I think “good things” represents the natural, physical provision they lack and long for.
But, until they get to their promise land of abundant provision, it also represents the supernatural, miraculous provision of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus gave the parables of the child asking his father for food, in one place (Mathew 7: 9-11), He ends by saying “how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him” Mathew 7:11?
And in another place (Luke 11: 11-13), “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” Luke 11: 13?
The implication seems to be that what is good is the Holy Spirit.
So, when Luke 1:53 says he gives good things to the hungry, I think it also refers to the Holy Spirit.
They Will Come Out with More than if They had Never Been Hungry
So, in the end, the “hungry” end up with the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. If they stay the course, they will make it to their promise land of abundant provision.
But in the meantime, they have the privilege of getting to know God as their Provider and Deliverer, Helper and Healer.
They will come out of their wilderness of unmet need with more than they ever would’ve had had they never been hungry.
They will know God better, have an awesome testimony of His supernatural provision. And, they will have matured and have something to impart to others.
Double for your Trouble: The Best of both Worlds
So, it turns out, to be without “wine” and “strong drink” is not such a bad thing after all. “For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” Psalm 107:9.
If we never got the physical, tangible, natural provision to meet our need, that would be a more difficult cross to bear, since we are human. And God has created us with human needs.
But the beauty of being without wine and going hungry is that God will eventually meet our need in physical, natural ways. Just as He did for the Israelites.
But in the meantime, we get to know God as our provider and see miracles in our midst. Not only that, but we come out of it with a glorious testimony and a wealth of maturity.
If we’re willing to exercise faith and patience when we’re hungry and thirsty, we will eventually get to enjoy the best of both worlds (see Hebrews 6: 12).
To read another post related to Double for your Trouble: Best of Both Worlds, see Walking by Faith: The Secret to Feeling Good.
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