Betroubled and blessed through a curse

Today's observation has two parts
the minor relates to Proverbs - it again speaks on the wicked. In this case (11:8) it compares the propensity for trouble that wicked has ... not only do their actions cause them to bear the fruit of trouble, but sometimes the trouble they experience was caused by someone else. This verse indicates that trouble CAN befall anyone, but sometimes its rightful recipient (the righteous) are saved from it by God, and so, being a faithful delivery of itself, the trouble still has a delivery - to the wicked!

So this is a great segue (this word always looks awkward to me) - for God is faithful, greatly to be praised, and performs many, many implicit miracles.

Today's reading (Luke 1:20) in the OYB points to an implicit miracle ... one that I have never heard discussed. There is a one-to-one relationship between the ability to speak and the ability to think and reason. Not that self-awareness is completely absent when someone loses the ability to speak, but the reality is that there is a difference in self-ness with the loss of speech.

The miracle I claim is that Zacharias was able to think as coherently before he became mute as after. Another is that John was born into a family with parents who truly loved God, and where John was likely forced to learn patience, humility, and self-restraint ... all qualities you would pick up from a father who was a mute priest. So, in a way, by cursing Zacharias for lacking faith, He blessed John as well.

Which is just like God - he's the ultimate multi-tasker!