Overcoming a Mountain of Obstacles – May 20, 2016

Zechariah 4:6 [ESV]

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ”

Zechariah records God’s instruction to Zerubbabel the governor of the resettled Jews. Zerubbabel, along with Joshua the priest, is commissioned to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem in the face of much opposition (“O great mountain”). He is encouraged not to look at things from a human and earthly point of view, but to trust the supernatural power of God to bring about what He has promised. Zerubbabel must work at the given task; but he should look to God to provide all that is necessary. Zerubbabel has a responsibility, but the burden of ultimate production rests on God’s shoulders. It is not human or national might. It is not human or national power. The Spirit of God will be supernaturally at work. The Lord who commands the angelic hosts of heaven, whose power is inconceivable, promises to help Zerubbabel accomplish the task.

We have not been tasked with rebuilding a temple in the face of enemies and obstacles. Yet God gives us many varied instructions. He instructs us to fight sin and selfishness, to grow in the knowledge of truth, to build up and be built up by people in the church, to share gospel hope with unbelievers, to humbly guide our children in gospel truth, to respect and submit to God-ordained authorities, to meet suffering and affliction with resolve and hope, and the list goes on and on.

The instructions God provides you, those at the forefront of your heart and mind, probably come with a mountain of opposition that can appear overwhelming. Take heart child of God. Your success does not depend on your perceptions, your abilities or your resources (“Not by might, nor by power…”). The God who commissions you with a task is the God who empowers you to accomplish it. Grace does not mean God overlooks your faults and failures. Grace means God provides you with everything necessary to accomplish the appointed task. His is the strength and His is the glory. Yours is the satisfaction of knowing you are blessed to be a dependent instrument in His hands to make the glory of His power radiant.

Humble yourself before the mighty hand of God. He is more than capable of leveling the mountain of obstacles that are before you!