Two Questions About John The Baptist

Q. Let me just say thanks once again for your site. I love the wisdom that God has given you, also just as a side thought it must be tough not to get a big head with all these people saying how good your site is? Anyway, I digress!

I have two question is about John the Baptist, and how he was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb.  First, what prophecies were there about John in the Old Testament? And second, (and this makes me sound a bit anti God, I’m not, I just would like to know what you thought of this) – was it not a bit imposing of God to fill John with the Holy Spirit in the womb, involuntarily? John didn’t ask for the life that he had, it seems like it was sort of forced upon him.  I can’t work out how this is justified, I’d appreciate your thoughts.

A. When the Jews asked John who he was, he quoted Isaiah 40:3, indicating that he’d been sent to fulfill the prophecy of forerunner to the Messiah.

The angel Gabriel told John’s father Zechariah, that their child would minister in the power and spirit of Elijah, whose return was prophesied in Malachi 4:5.  Jesus said that John came to fulfill that prophecy (Matt.17:11-13).  So just like Jesus, John’s life was predestined to fulfill a promise that God made to His people.