Reflections on Zechariah 10

Zechariah 10 (Contemporary English Version)


1. I, the LORD, am the one who sends storm clouds and showers of rain to make fields produce. So when the crops need rain, you should pray to me.
   
2. You can't believe idols and fortunetellers, or depend on the hope you receive from witchcraft and interpreters of dreams. But you have tried all of these, and now you are like sheep without a shepherd.
   
3. I, the LORD All-Powerful, am fiercely angry with you leaders, and I will punish you. I care for my people, the nation of Judah, and I will change this flock of sheep into charging war horses.
   
4. From this flock will come leaders who will be strong like cornerstones and tent pegs and weapons of war.
   
5. They will join in the fighting, and together they will trample their enemies like mud. They will fight, because I, the LORD, will be on their side. And they will crush the enemy cavalry.
   
6. I will strengthen the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. And I will show mercy because I am the LORD, their God. I will answer their prayers and bring them home. Then it will seem as though I had never rejected them.
   
7. Israel will be like a tribe of warriors celebrating with wine. When their children see this, they will also be happy because of me, the LORD.
   
8. I will give a signal for them to come together because I have rescued them. And there will be as many as ever before.
   
9. Although I scattered my people in distant countries, they won't forget me. Once their children are raised, they will return--
   
10. I will bring them home from Egypt and Assyria, then let them settle as far as Gilead and Lebanon, until the land overflows with them.
    
11. My people will go through an ocean of troubles, but I will overcome the waves and dry up the deepest part of the Nile. Assyria's great pride will be put down, and the power of Egypt will disappear.
    
12. I'll strengthen my people because of who I am, and they will follow me. I, the LORD, have spoken!
    

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Zechariah's prophecy is addressed to a people who had just returned from an exile in Babylon due to their idolatry and lack of justice. Those he addressed were born in Babylon and to a great extent had lost their sense of national identity, and in particular, God's purpose for this people. To a great extent, Zechariah was teaching them through his foretelling of what is to come of their purpose as God's people. Chapter 10 begins with a lesson about the sin of idolatry.

Do you want rain in the spring for abundant crops? Ask the Lord who makes the clouds, gives the showers, and provides the crops. Idols can provide none of this. Neither can idols speak, but the reference in verse 2 of them speaking falsehood is likely referring to the priests of the idol worship. Idolatry leaves the people to wander like sheep without a shepherd. God will get rid of the shepherds who have turned to idolatry and left the people adrift. In their place He will give the people a new and trustworthy Shepherd who will deliver them. Out of Judah will come the cornerstone (a reference to the Messiah) who will restore Judah and Joseph. Judah is a reference to the Southern kingdom and Joseph to the Northern. In other words all Israel will be restored.

With the Messiah as Israel's Shepherd, God will then call together all Jews who are scattered throughout the nations. He "will whistle and gather them because I have redeemed them." They will again be as numerous as they once were. In restoring and regathering His people, the Lord will remove all obstacles to their restoration. As the Lord took the people through the obstacle which the Red Sea presented to Israel's escape from Egypt under Moses' leadership, so He will remove all obstacles to gathering His people from the lands to which they were scattered on this occasion.

God's ways and plans are sure. We can depend on them completely. But we respond to God completely in faith. God's plans for Israel, establish with Abraham, will be fulfilled regardless of all evidence in past and present history to the contrary. As followers of God we have to ask ourselves who it is that we follow when outward evidence seems to contradict God's claims and promises. Do we walk by faith or by sight? If by faith, then we hold strong to God's claims and promises. If by sight, then we falter when circumstances seem to contradict His promises. From my perspective, the basis of it all goes back to creation. Is God the Creator or not? If He is, then there is nothing of which He is incapable of doing. Nothing will thwart His promises or His plans. I can utterly depend on Him regardless of what circumstances may present.