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Zechariah 10 (ESV)

⁶ “I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
⁷ Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior,
and their hearts shall be glad as with wine.
Their children shall see it and be glad;
their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.

⁸ “I will whistle for them and gather them in,
for I have redeemed them,
and they shall be as many as they were before.
⁹ Though I scattered them among the nations,
yet in far countries they shall remember me,
and with their children they shall live and return.
¹⁰ I will bring them home from the land of Egypt,
and gather them from Assyria,
and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,
till there is no room for them.
¹¹ He shall pass through the sea of troubles
and strike down the waves of the sea,
and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up.
The pride of Assyria shall be laid low,
and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
¹² I will make them strong in the Lord,
and they shall walk in his name,”
declares the Lord.

 

REFLECTION:

• In Chapter 10, God promises to have mercy on the people, “as though I had not rejected them” (6). This “not rejected” situation includes God being their leader again, bringing the people back (6); being redeemed and they shall be as many as they were before (8); and further deliverance. Just as before when God led the people out of Egypt with signs and miracles.
• The abundance of God’s grace is often experienced in our lives today. Not just enough for our needs, but grace upon grace. All we have to do is to claim God’s blessings by faith.
• This picture of the return from Egypt and Assyria (10) symbolizes the return of the people from all the diaspora nations. Egypt and Assyria evoke memories of the people being slaves and separated from family. The sea of troubles refers to the Red Sea (11), the sea that the Israelites miraculously walked through during their exodus from Egypt. The Israelites will continue to be protected by God’s wondrous power just as they return from Egypt and elsewhere.
• God promises to strengthen His people (6, 12). If we have a close relationship with God, His Spirit will enable us to do His will, despite obstacles. If we turn away from God, the source of our strength is cut off.

 

PRAYER:

Dear God! Thank you for Your willingness to bestow on me every spiritual blessing in heaven. Lord, teach me to learn to receive from You by faith, and offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to You as return.

 

HYMN:

You Are The Vine; We Are The Branches – youtu.be/301PlhiRNx8