One thing I’ve learned is that God usually calls us to things that are beyond our strength and ability. It’s not to shame us by exposing our weakness or inability, but to get us to rely on Him. What do you normally do when you face a mountain God has called you to that’s too big? Some people look at it and realize they can’t do it and quit before they ever get started. Some go at it with everything in them trying to do it in their own strength, but get burned out along the way. Others try to analyze and strategize how to accomplish it, but often get paralysis through analysis. Then there are those who trust God and get started taking it one step and one day at a time.
In Zechariah 4, the first wave of people had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. They had started to rebuild the Temple, but it was a large task that faced opposition. The project, headed up by Zerubbabel, had stalled for about 16 years when Zechariah was given a vision of a golden lampstand that was connected to two olive trees giving it continuous oil. An angel then Zechariah “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the Lord of hosts” (AMP). God was prophetically reminding Zerubbabel that it was going to be accomplished by the divine strength of the Spirit and to keep going despite the mountain of opposition.
In Zechariah 4:7 the angel continued, “What are you, O great mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who will rebuild the temple] you will become a plain (insignificant)! And he will bring out the capstone [of the new temple] with loud shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” What God calls you to will be opposed, but keep at it because God will complete what He begins. This verse shows us how people celebrated at the end of the work as an encouragement to Zerubbabel to keep at it. You and I can take courage too when we face mountains of obstacles and shortcomings. It is not by your might or power that it will be accomplished, but by the continuous flow of oil from the Lord who will empower you to complete it.
Photo by Stephen Rheeder on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 