Time to Change Perspective
If you feel there is a mountain of obstacles in your way today, take to heart the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, when He faced the daunting task of rebuilding the Temple with returning exiles who were discouraged and felt it impossible.
6 Then he said to me, "This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: 'May God bless it! May God bless it!'" Zech. 4:6-7
Let’s re-read our passage from Zechariah from the Amplified Bible … Zech. 4:6-7 AMP:
6 Then he said to me, This [addition of the bowl to the candlestick, causing it to yield a ceaseless supply of oil from the olive trees] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts. 7 For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who with Joshua had led the return of the exiles from Babylon and was under-taking the rebuilding of the temple, before him] you shall become a plain [a mere molehill]! And he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone [of the new temple] with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it!
In this passage of Scripture, Zerubbabel feels overwhelmed by the task at hand. He is one of the leaders of Israel who is coming back from exile. They are returning with a task: rebuild the Temple. There is opposition from their enemies, and he has no army with which to fight. The people are totally discouraged because the job seems impossible, (to Zerubbabel too). There seems to be no resources with which to build … the vision cannot be completed.
Throughout the Scriptures, mountains are generally used symbolically to refer to impossible obstacles. The Prophet Isaiah said, in Isa. 40:4 that “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain.” In the New Testament Paul says that “4the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments (imaginations) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:4-5 NKJV
The Lord taught His disciples about dealing with “mountains” in Mark 11:23. On a particular occasion, Jesus cursed a fig tree. When the disciples saw the dead fig tree withered from the roots, they were amazed. At their amazement, Jesus said to them emphatically, "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. NIV The spiritual principle is that obstacles will always be around us. The Holy Spirit teaches us to trust in God who alone has all power and might to accomplish any task, and not to focus on what seems impossible.
In our text the prophet is telling Zerubbabel plainly that by no human strength or army or man-made weapon could the Temple be rebuilt. He had to believe and trust in God’s power alone to help him. So with the Word of the Prophet ringing in His ears, Zerubbabel confidently begins the work, believing that God will not only restore the community but also level any mountain (obstacle) that stands in his path.
The same is true for us today. Each one of us may be facing a mountain of impossibilities. God comes with His Word to you however, and says, “Trust in MY might and power. Trust and believe in My Spirit in you. Hear MY voice and follow ME. DO what I say, speak what I say, and TRUST ME with all of your heart.” To all the voices that say “Impossible!” remember Jesus’ Word: "If you can believe, all things are possible to him (or her) who believes." Mk. 9:23 NKJV The question we need to ask ourselves is do we believe God is greater and more powerful than whatever we may be facing?
The only way we can be confident in His Word and in His voice within our hearts is to spend time in His Word with Him daily. There are no shortcuts! Our got-to-have-it-now culture will not serve us in following God’s Will. It takes a choice to develop a relationship with the Lord and learn and grow in confidence in discerning His voice. As you grow, you will see that there is no mountain is too great for God in you! Are you seeing mountains or molehills today? Think about it!