Something we’ve loved getting to do on our blog is share reflections from others as we read each Minor Prophet together! More info.
If you’ve missed any sermons on the 12 Minor Prophets, you can watch those here at anytime.
Leon Neumann: Zechariah
“After that, the Word of God came to me: ‘Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!’” (Zechariah 4:8-10 MSG)
Last week, Kyle preached on Haggai, who prophesied around the same time as Zechariah. According to Ezra 3 and 4, the foundation of the temple had been laid earlier, led by Zerubbabel the governor of Judah. But work stopped for about 16 years because of threats from enemies surrounding Jerusalem. And because of the people’s misplaced priorities.
Then Haggai and Zechariah came on the scene and exhorted the Hebrews to finish rebuilding the temple.
The above passage stood out to me because sometimes I, like Zerubbabel, have trouble starting something I sense God wants me to do. The day I start, even though it might be a small beginning, is of huge importance because it gets me off dead center. In Zerubbabel’s case, it took faith that God would enable them to rebuild despite enemy opposition. He and the rest of the people acted, and succeeded, in “setting the last stone in place!”
When I sense God telling me to do something, I don’t generally encounter forceful opposition. But for some reason I often hesitate to get started. I find if I take that first step by faith, the Lord will provide the grace to complete what He asked of me, just like He did for Zerubbabel. The additional steps are usually much easier if I can take that first step.
Lord, may I by grace trust You to make those “small beginnings.”
