Because God Said So

As Gabriel, the angel, informs Mary about her significant role in the coming of the Messiah, Mary asks a question.  It is the same question that any of us would ask if we were told of something that was to happen that seemed impossible.  She asked, “How will this be…?”  Gabriel ends his response to Mary’s question by saying, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”  In one way this seems to be a similar response to what we use when our children ask us “why” after we’ve asked them to do something.  We respond, “because I said so.”  In this case it could be summarized, “because God said so.”  The angel did give her a little more detail about what was going to happen, but those details were just as impossible and strange as the first proclamation.  What really mattered is that God said so.

What is important here is Mary’s response to Gabriel’s answer.  She said, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”  Mary’s first response is similar to what we find from many people throughout the Bible.  Moses had similar questions in the midst of a dramatic call from God.  In the end, she had to make a decision based on “because God said so.”  That was enough for her.  If it is possible with God and He says he will do it, then she knew she could trust him.  Her life at this moment changes completely.  God had not explained everything to her, but she said “yes” because she knew that all things were possible through him.  When God calls you and you hear “because I said so”, are you ready to trust him and respond with “yes”?