Lessons from Zerubbabel's Faith — Vaneetha Risner
“Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)
I’ve been repeating this promise to myself as I’m wondering how I will manage. Manage basic self-care, the writing I’ve been entrusted with, and even finding contentment in where I am right now. So this encouragement from the prophet Zechariah has been particularly precious as I’m learning to lean on God.
Zechariah offered these words from God to a leader named Zerubbabel, and as I read them, I wondered who Zerubbabel was and why God specifically gave him that message. Was he also in a difficult position, being asked to accomplish a seemingly insurmountable task?
The Story of Zerubbabel: Rebuilding in the Face of Opposition
After reading all the references to Zerubbabel in the Bible, which were more than I expected, I learned that he was governor of Judah when the Jews came back from 70 years of exile in Babylon. During their captivity Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, destroyed the original temple that Solomon built. God later stirred the new king of Persia, Cyrus, to send the Jewish exiles back with an order to give them all they needed to build a new temple in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was among the men who began rebuilding the foundation. But opposition to the work was fierce, and their enemies were relentless until they persuaded the next king of Persia to stop the rebuilding. So the temple project was left unfinished and abandoned (Ezra 4:21, 24).
The Jews moved on with their lives and concentrated on their own homes. But 17 years later, God raised up the prophets Zechariah and Haggai to exhort the people to start rebuilding. Haggai said: “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins? … each of you busies himself with his own house.” (Haggai 1:4, 9). The prophets’ words stirred the governor Zerubbabel and the priest Joshua, who both began rebuilding the temple; they had no official decree to restart but they trusted the Lord to continue the work in the face of renewed opposition (Ezra 5:1-2).
Finding Hope in Small Beginnings
Since few of the exiles had seen the original temple, the Lord knew that they wouldn’t see the importance of what they were doing as they stared at the ruins. God asked Zerubbabel: “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” (Haggai 2:3)
When we don’t have a vision of what we’re working towards, it’s easy to lose heart and feel what we’re doing is insignificant. Perhaps Zerubbabel and all the people were wondering if the temple was even worth rebuilding. When they began, it didn’t look like much.
I’ve felt that way before. I’ve begun work with great excitement but have gotten discouraged when it didn’t go as planned. When my daughters were in their early teens, I was doing a daily Bible study with them. They quickly became disinterested and even hostile, and I eventually gave up trying. It didn’t seem worth the effort. I forgot that God was working in their lives even when I couldn’t see it.
Perhaps the Israelites felt that way too. It was easier to concentrate on remodeling their own houses which directly and immediately benefited them. They didn’t face any opposition for that. But the Lord told the people to be strong and not to fear as they rebuilt the temple — God himself would be with them as they worked (Haggai 2:4-5).
During this time, Zechariah spoke those words that I’ve been clinging to: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) We do not accomplish great things because of our great skills but rather because of our dependence on God. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. The rebuilding of the temple was not by their might or their power but by the Spirit of God who worked for them and in them. God just needed their willingness.
Then God said, “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.. The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall complete it” (Zechariah 4:7,9).
What looked like a mountain — the task of rebuilding the temple with enemies trying to stop them – was nothing to God. Just as Jesus told the disciples that faith could move mountains (Matthew 17:20), God was telling Zerubbabel that he too could move mountains. Rebuilding the temple may have seemed impossible in Zerubbabel’s strength, but with God’s Spirit, his own hands would complete it. What a great word from God. He will establish the work of our hands (Psalm 138:8).
Trusting God's Faithfulness in Our Weakness
Zechariah then said: ““For who has despised the day of small things? But these … will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.” (Zechariah 4:10 NASB 1995).
Honestly, I’m one who has despised the day of small things. The beginnings that seem insignificant. I want to see immediate progress and measurable results before I can rejoice. Maybe you’ve felt that way too. Perhaps for activities like starting a healthy diet, beginning physical therapy, or breaking a bad habit for a few days. Or external things like a good medical report, or an act of kindness from a hostile person or a text when we feel unseen. We hesitate to mark the beginning of something positive when we don’t know the ending. We’re afraid of being disappointed if the good things don’t continue. But God calls us to rejoice in his gifts, celebrating the day of small things when they come. Celebration doesn’t mean the good things will continue forever; we can rejoice even in the small blessings of today.
So don’t despise the day of small things. Trust that God is working in whatever he has called you to, no matter how small. Do the next thing before you and entrust the outcome to God.
Zerubbabel was chosen by God and honored by him. God told Zerubbabel that he’d make him like a signet ring (Haggai 2:23), likely for his faithfulness in rebuilding the temple. Perhaps part of that honor was being in the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:12), enabling Zerubbabel to have a role in building the true temple in Christ (John 2:21) and now in us by his Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Today, you may feel that parts of your life are in ruins, unsure if you can even muster the strength to rebuild. From Zerubbabel’s life, I’ve been encouraged to trust that God will give me everything I need as I rely on him, knowing my weakness can become my strength. In God’s hands, my small beginnings may have remarkable endings. And one day we will all rejoice as we see what God has done in us and through us. We can trust that whatever God calls us to, we can do through his Spirit as he promises: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.” He who promised is faithful and if he has said it, he will surely bring it to pass.
