He Will Get Us Over The Finish Line

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.” (Zec 4:9 AV)

Zerubbabel and Ezra were responsible for repairing and rebuilding the temple destroyed by Babylon 70 years prior.  Their project would result in a smaller building with much less ‘show’.  When Babylon destroyed Solomon’s temple, they carried away all the precious metals.  When the temple was repaired, it lacked the flair of the original.  Many wept because of it.  Many saw the project as a demotion of sorts.  What is puzzling is the assessment above.  It is assumed that Zerubbabel would not finish the project because of that very observation.  They believed that because the repaired temple lacked the flamboyance of the former, that those in charge of the project would abandon it.  Add to this the many troubles they would face with enemies within and without, and the people simply didn’t believe this repaired temple would go up.  When God is in the project, it will get done.  It must have been very satisfying for Zerubbabel and Ezra to complete their calling.  What they started, the LORD enabled them to finish.

I am reliving my childhood.  I went out and got a plastic model kit.  The kit is a 1937 Ford Pickup truck.  One doesn’t get just the kit.  There are tools of the trade.  There is a craft knife, work mat, sandpaper, and a drying stand.  There are paints; both enamel and water-based.  A magnifying glass for aged eyes is also a help.  There are paintbrushes, paint thinner, and glue.  All this is in a tackle box.  The model I got was the highest skill level they make.  There are more pieces than a simpler skill level might have, and one must think ahead before glue is used.  Putting this together takes weeks.  One can only do a little at a time.  Many of the parts are painted before assembly, and when glued, the paint has to be sanded off at the point of adhesion.  If one is in a hurry, he or she will give up.  Much like a 3-D puzzle, when the project is accepted, commitment must be all the way through.  When it is done, there will be a deep sense of satisfaction for completing such a project.  Even though I don’t have the steadiest of hands, I am sure there will be pleasure at the project once done.

It is hard to start a project that one knows he will not complete.  After a while, the heart becomes discouraged.  Commitment wanes.  Zerubbabel was promised that if and when he started, the LORD would enable him to finish.  What an encouragement that must have been.  Not only was it encouragement to Zerubbabel, but it was also evidence to the people of God that God was in it.  Why?  We may not know exactly.  But what we do know is that a man who starts something against all odds and finishes it, just might have been called and enabled from God above.  For me, I take this as encouragement.  God calls us all to a purpose.  As we age, we begin to wonder if we will ever do enough for the LORD.  What He tells us is that if we surrender to our purpose, He will enable us to finish it!  Praise be to the LORD!