BY MY SPIRIT

"So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." — Zechariah 4:6

Imagine if the state where you are living right now were surrounded entirely by enemies intent on your total destruction — just because you happen to live in Florida, or Kansas, or Colorado. How would it feel to live under that tension, that fear, 24/7? How would that affect how you looked upon yourself, others, the world?

Of course, you know where I'm heading with this. Israel is that state, the Israelis are those people. Living in a country no bigger than the state of New Jersey, throughout her history, Israel has been surrounded by enemies who share one goal — wiping Israel off the face of the earth. Within a day of its inception, five of Israel's surrounding "neighbors" declared war on the fledgling state and attacked from all directions. As a result, the Jewish population, some 600,000 people, was outnumbered 20 to 1! Yet, we prevailed.

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by this. We need only to remember the biblical accounts of Gideon and Midianites, where the people of Israel routed their much stronger enemies with only 300 men. Or remember how Nehemiah and the people rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem in 52 days, despite opposition from her enemies. Over and over again, we see the people of Israel succeed, despite being outnumbered, outmanned, and out-equipped.

The one thing we were never without, however, was God. Remember what God told Gideon: "With the three hundred men… I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands" (Judges 7:7). And when Nehemiah and the people completed the rebuilding project in record time, the nations around them realized, "that this work had been done with the help of our God" (Nehemiah 6:16). The prophet Zechariah reminds us of this as well, in God's words to His people: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit."

There was opposition to God's plans in biblical times; there is opposition to God's plan for His people today. But what people of faith can depend upon is that God's Word will endure. He remembers all His promises that He makes to His people. He cares for His people and will deliver them from all opposition.

Despite what enemies we face, Christians and Jews alike, we know that we have God on our side. As you live for Him, determine not to trust in your own strength and abilities, but in His Spirit.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein