A willing heart

“‘What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!’” Zechariah 4,7 CSB

The above Scripture was the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, given by the angel who appeared to the prophet Zechariah. Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah in the times where the people of Israel had returned to Jerusalem and Judah after being taken captive to Babylon by king Nebuchadnezzar.

Cyrus, king of Persia, who took over Babylon, said: “The Lord, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. Let every survivor, wherever he resides, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1,2)

Just like that, the Israelites were free to go back to their land. How amazing! Indeed, God does not lack ways to fulfill his promises (Ezra 1,1)

Zerubbabel and the people laid the foundation of the temple in Jerusalem. But they later faced opposition from their enemies who frustrated them for many years.

“Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Ezra 4,4-5 NIV)

In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’” Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Haggai 1,1-4 (NIV)

In Haggai 1, God was calling Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest to rebuild the temple again. It seemed as though the people of Israel had moved on with their affairs, but they were not prospering.

“Then the governor, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak, and all the people with them listened, really listened, to the voice of their God. When God sent the prophet Haggai to them, they paid attention to him. In listening to Haggai, they honored God.” Haggai 1,12 (MSG)

It might have been difficult to hear the call to rebuild the temple after so much disappointment and discouragement but Zerubbabel and the people had a reverential fear for God. They took it.

In fact, in the New King James Version, it says that they “obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him” (Verse 12). It's like God accredited obedience to them even before they did anything: in their hearts, they were willing.

“Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.” (Haggai 1,13 NIV)

This beautiful passage of the book of Haggai depicts what the grace of God looks like. God presents a request and a daunting one from a human perspective, but He looks for a surrendered heart, willing to obey. That is enough for Him to work with. And He gives this assurance: I AM WITH YOU. And He stirs up the spirit and exploits are performed.

See how God rooted for Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4,6-10

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it.” (Zechariah 4,9)

Child of God, there is power in willingness.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Luke 1,38 NLT