“Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. “What do you see now?” he asked. I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.” Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my Lord? What do they mean?” “Don’t you know?” the angel asked. “No, my Lord,” I replied. Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’” Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.) Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?” “Don’t you know?” he asked. “No, my Lord,” I replied. Then he said to me, “They represent the two anointed ones who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth.””
Zechariah 4:1-14 NLT
We must understand that the source of our calling and conviction also possesses the power and agency to enact those things. Because of the grand scope of the intricate way in which God uses us to weave a narrative thread throughout his tapestry, it can be tempting to become overwhelmed and even despondent at the things that God asks of us. Yet we must understand that it is unnecessary for us to be beyond our finiteness. We must only allow him to guide us from one moment to the next and accept that his character defines our safety and providence in the process. For the returning exiles, they considered their efforts to rebuild the temple a grand task that was beyond their ability. As such, they were easily disheartened with the task and the dissenters. But here, God calls them to know his agency, claim it, and be at peace with finite, humble beginnings. It was important for them to note that their efforts were not in vain, when coupled with God’s love will and power. We should take this to heart whenever God brings us a task outweighing our own abilities. Take heart.
JOSH McGARY. COM 