Wednesday, December 17th

Let’s look at another thread of small, unnoticeable things within Jesus’ genealogy.

Don’t worry about getting the names right, just take your time through each set of names.

Read Matthew 1:6-11- 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, 7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, 8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, 9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel… Say that last one out loud, Zerubbabel. It’s just fun to say.

Some may be asking, “Aaron, what’s the point?” First, who is Zerubbabel? Second, we see generation after generation which wandered further and further from the things of God, but God was still at work. We see it in Zerubbabel’s life.

Part of the story of Zerubbabel’s life is found in Zechariah. Zechariah is considered a minor prophet, not because he is less than the major prophets, like Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel, it’s because the book is simply smaller, less chapters. If you want to dive into more about Zechariah watch the Bible Project’s overview, fascinating.

Quick lay of the land. The Temple was destroyed and God used Zechariah to call the people to rebuild the Temple. The priest at the time, 520 BC, was Zerubbabel. It was up to him and Joshua to persevere in rebuilding the Temple. Zechariah is filled with dreams, moments where God is speaking to Zechariah, showing him things greater than he can ask or imagine. Zechariah 4 is one such dream.

Zechariah 4:6-10- 6 So he (angel) said to me (Zechariah), “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. 7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me (Zechariah): 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. 10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone (plumb line) in the hand of Zerubbabel?”

What gets your attention? I know you may have lots of questions and that’s okay. Go ahead and read more or watch the video.

One quick answer to your question, if you knew you were asking it or not. “What’s up with the seven eyes of God?” Most commentators believe that because seven is the perfect number, that in God’s perfection, he can see all, His range throughout all the land and rejoices in what he sees with Zerubbabel.

Now the first observation or push from this passage and the thread of small things.
Let me simplify this, how do you rebuild the Temple? Stone by stone, one at a time, with perseverance and determination. What the angel was telling Zechariah, as an encouragement to Zerubbabel the priest, you cannot do this in your might, it is by the Spirit.
How often do we try to do things in our own strength? Our own will? Our own wisdom? As I confessed on Sunday, I know that when I live in my flesh, in my humanness, I think I should do it in my strength, will, or wisdom. What God is getting our attention with, especially in the small things, how do we depend on God’s Spirit and not our own power?

As a friend share this prayer with our small group guys this week, “God, thank you for carrying the cross I could never carry. By your wounds I am healed. By your sacrifices, I am redeemed. By your love, I am forgiven. By your grace, I am saved. By your guidance, I am found. In your mercy, I find strength. In your light, I find clarity. In your Word, I find the way.”
Since that is true, how do we live that out in everything we do, starting with the small things? What small things, “brick by brick” do you need to do in God’s power and not your own? Match that prayer with your effort. Because remember, the angel didn’t just snap his fingers and the temple was rebuilt. It was the Spirit’s power through the hands of Zerubbabel.