Zechariah 8

“The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Though it may seem incredible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem incredible to Me?’ – the declaration of the Lord of hosts. The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘I will save My people from the land of the East and the land of the West. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.’ The Lord of Host says this: ‘Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the Temple, the house of the Lord of Hosts. For prior to those days neither man nor beast had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor. But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days’ – this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.” Zechariah 8:6-11 (HCSB)

Today’s chapter is another one of those incredibly encouraging, exhorting, and uplifting sections of Scripture. Yet, we will only focus on a small portion of it. But what a portion it is!  

Have you ever thought to pray for something yet paused and said to yourself, “That would be asking too much of the Lord.”? I have. But God’s statement to Israel conveys precisely the opposite sentiment. He tells Israel that what may seem incredible to them is commonplace to Him. Split a sea in two? No problem. Speak the cosmos into existence with a single word? Easy. We begin to take on His character when we align ourselves with His Word. We want the things He wants and seek His will over ours (or the world’s will). Then, we know what to pray for. Therefore, if you are pursuing such Godly Biblical “alignment,” pray away! Through His Spirit, God will guide you and teach you that some of the things we used to pray for were Worldly and trivial, and He will direct you toward His heart. It is amazing when our prayers are God-led because that is when we see what is humanly impossible materialize before our eyes.

This is what God is telling the remnant of Israel: He is saying that a day will come when Jerusalem will be rebuilt, restored, and re-populated. It seemed impossible to the Babylonian remnant, standing amidst the dirt & rubble of their destroyed city. It seemed impossible in 1948, just before Israel was again reformed, seemingly overnight, and it will seem impossible in the days of the Antichrist, when evil will dominate the world, threatening to annihilate all who follow the Lord. More than simply rebuilding the city, the Lord will literally lower the “New Jerusalem” from Heaven. Seems far-fetched? It is not for God, especially in light of all the other “miracles” documented in the Bible.

God will save His people from the West and East. The West, with its “Liberty without accountability” mindset, and the East, with its “Discipline without personal relationship” ideals, will be laid to waste; out from the East and West will come true accountable disciples with freedom in their personal relationship with Messiah Jesus. We must take in the words of the prophets that everything we need will be eternally provided in God’s timing & wisdom. It is planned. The Lord has declared it.