Last time we got to hear about the first of 8 visions Zechariah had in one night. God told our prophet how He would again show mercy to His people.
Same night, second vision:
“Then I looked up – and there before me were four horns! I asked the angel who was speaking to me, ‘What are these?’
He answered me, ‘These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.’
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. I asked, ‘What are these coming to do?’
He answered, ‘These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.'”
Zechariah 1:18-21
Have you ever been so sifted that you could barely lift your head?
It’s interesting: horns are symbolic of strength and power in God’s Word. These four horns in particular represent the four nations of Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Medo-Persia, the enemies of God’s people who opposed them.
Remember, this was God’s plan. He had outlined in Leviticus 26 exactly what would happen to His people if they gave themselves over to the gods of the nations. The exiles and their ancestors had real-time consequences for their disobedience.
He really is a good Father.
But now He’s done with that. He wants to lift up their heads again…and drive the nations away from His people.
Now. We cannot forget all we learned from Haggai. The people must work. As Beth Moore says, God wisely requires us to play an active part in our liberation. If He just zapped our enemies for us, we’d simply wander, slide, or jump into the next pit. The next object, circumstance, or person who seems to fill our Grand Canyon-sized emptiness and need.
He’s too kind to let us do that. So we work alongside Him to get free and stay free. In His power, under His Word, with His people.
But He gives us the beautiful vision of Zechariah 1 to carry us through the battle: Ultimately He will defeat our enemy.
And we will know where our help comes from.