Not by might, nor by power
“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” (Zech 4:6)
You are warmly welcome!
Jesus and his disciples were due for a retreat, to eat and rest. They were tired and hungry, after a series of ministry activities. Mark brings us the story of how the much needed retreat Jesus proposed flopped! Many people saw them going away to the resort in a boat, ‘and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them.’ (Mark 6:30-44) They were hungrier, they were more tired! Jesus saw the great throng ashore, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. I wonder how the disciples felt – arriving to rest only to get back to tough duty, led by the Teacher himself. Human strength was finished; they could only tap into divine strength – by faith, and they did. The teaching was crowned with eating that must have refreshed both camps – the ministry team and the crowds. Five loaves and two fish multiplied and served over five thousand people; the real source of food was also miraculous – by faith.
The story of Elisha’s calling points us, in another dimension, to serving by faith. In the three verses (1Kings 19:19-21), Elisha is found busy supervising and participating in a great farm business he perhaps was about to inherit. Approaching the zenith of his career, having acquired all training and experience required for his success at the business, having marshaled the equipment and personnel for the work, now the future is securely assured because the business is booming and growing. But then this interruption: Elijah threw a mantle that spoke volumes and defined a new path for Elisha. First, he injured the business a little in the name of making a party – the people ate and were ‘happy’; then he abandoned the business, and went to minister to Elijah. If questions about how he would survive lingered in his head, then the plausible answer is nothing else but ‘by faith’.
Today, someone needs to hear about trusting fully in the Lord and resting fully in his peace, even when all else around us and in the future may be uncertain. When you find yourself in Elisha’s situation – called to serve, in a short term or long term assignment, be sure God has already insured your future with something better than what your career could provide. And while you are serving, much needed times of rest may be rudely interrupted with more duty: in serving by faith, tap into the divine source of strength.
During this term, we will review many stories of Bible Characters who succeeded not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God. These stories will encourage us in our own journies and point us to the real source of our strength for progress and life.
God bless you all.