The answer is: Ezekiel|Zacharias|Zechariah

Eze 3 / Luke 1

That's correct! The figures of Ezekiel and Zechariah both faced bouts of muteness, though their stories unfold in very different contexts. Ezekiel, a prophet called to deliver hard messages to the people of Israel, found himself struck dumb as part of a divine message. This is fascinating when you think about how even prophets could feel overwhelmed by the tasks laid upon them. There’s a great echo of suffering in silence, where Ezekiel could only express his prophetic visions through dramatic actions instead of words.

Then we have Zechariah, a priest in the New Testament narrative, who doubted an angel's message about his wife's miraculous pregnancy. For us, understanding his silence can shed light on the theme of disbelief—what happens when we doubt the unimaginable? Interestingly, friends often think of Zechariah’s story as merely about his challenge with faith; however, it parallels the feelings of many around him—overwhelmed by an uncertain future, not unlike the challenges faced today.

Did you know that in the Jewish tradition, names carry significant meanings? For example, “Zechariah” means “Yahweh remembered," which adds a poetic layer to his experience of muteness, where for nine months he would be compelled to meditate on the promise directly affecting his life and heritage. Both stories remind us that sometimes the most profound communications come not from our words but from our deepest reflections and actions. It showcases the importance of both listening and speaking in different seasons of life!