Zechariah 9 - 14
Reflections
- in chapter 10, I am reminded of God's redemptive purpose and how he restores people. how he proceeded to restore a failed nation, Israel. I am encouraged in this moment, because I considered myself a failed business, with nothing done right. It is 1 month, and I am still struggling to secure any deals. I already lost one, and every chase is like chasing into air. There is also a lot of structural work to be done for my company, and a lot of personal development and planning to be done on my own. I sometimes wonder, sometimes worry... if I proceed with this, what if someone else copies, what if someone else does it before me, what if someone else is already doing it... what if.... and then I get so paralyzed by what I am facing. I want God's redemption. Come and save me. It looks so easy, the salvation that God gives. I wonder... why is mine so hard.
Then in chapter 11, I see another more dire version of warnings. it started with God , or rather, the prophet Zechariah speaking prophetically on like rejecting Israel and Judah. there is reference that he "rejected them" by breaking of a shepherd staffs. 2 for both of them, and then using of terms saying like he sold them both away. But at the end of the chapter is punishment for the one who was given charge over those 2 nations. there is a very powerful curse and press onto the supposedly shepherds for both nations. I feel reflective of the duties given as a leader from that.
another thing that crosses my mind as I recall and read though each pain streaking passages of the old testament, each part where God gives punishment and deals heavy stuff onto Israel, it is also not just to press justice onto them. I feel if he really wants to, pressing justice would means wiping out the entire Israel, which also means.... no Israel as of today. To be honest, it is very hard to imagine the Israel of today still being considered God's chosen nation. it is.... so pathetic, so weak, and so far away from God. they are so scattered, and the nation, the world hates them so badly. makes me wonder... where do I stand... as a Christian, I read of their stories, of their content, but I never considered myself in their story. They look so irrelevant. And I always wonder why. Now, I stop. Because I think I understood why... why my mom also aways has this favoring bias and liking towards Israel. it is obedience. and I think I am ready to also accept that obedience, that God chosen Israel for a special purpose, and in that purpose, they are also given special privileges. But doesn't matter, I am not treated or regarded as 2nd hand products to God.
