Zechariah 4:10 - "For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel."
Israel had finally returned from exile. Remembering the days of prosperity and growth, they were again hopefull of the same progress. Verse 9 says that the foundation of the temple had been built, but the framework was yet to begin. As their 6-month building project drags on for several years, they become all the more discouraged and wonder if they’ve misunderstood God.
Like many situations in life, the foundation has begun, but we have yet to see the progress we expected. The relationship fails to deepen, a friend’s heart is not as soft as it was at the beginning, and a four year-olds’ S’s still look like 5’s. As far as we realize, progress seems slow and the reaping of what we’ve sown seems to be much further than we think. I’m grateful every day that I’m only the seed planter. I don’t provide the sun and rain, ensuring a deep-rooted, rapid rate of growth. I only cast the seed. I do what the Great Farmer tells me, trusting that He knows even now what the end result will be.
As I was thinking on this passage, we were driving across the Palouse of Central Washington. Dark fields of rich soil were just starting to show the 5-o’clock shadow of their winter wheat crop. Farmers with more tenacity than I wait expectantly for the reaping of a distant harvest. Someone who likes immediate results would have hung their head in frustration over the seemingly small growth.
Eventually, Israel saw the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. It came much later than they expected, but it did come to be sure. For God’s people, that would be evidence of Zechariah’s prophecy (4:9). In the same way, when we are privy to the redeeming acts of our Savior, we are given an opportunity to praise Him and be assured that He has not forgotten, nor will He turn away.
Our God is the Redeemer of all things, I’m becoming all the more convinced of this. There is nothing beyond His redemptive power, nor will He let evil triumph forever. As a friend recently assured me, “God has a reason for doing all that He does”. Even the greatest of setbacks are filled with purpose.
Until then, we are to faithfully sow the seed, love the unlovable, pray for healing, and forgive those who hurt us. Continue to hope, but leave the timeline to Him. In His time, He will make all things beautiful.
