How is it possible that a perfect righteous God would consider us? He who cannot even look upon sin, turning His back upon even His own son as our sin was laid upon Him. Beyond that, Jesus willingly took our sin upon Himself, knowing the depth of wrath He must bare for our salvation. He took our place that He might declare us righteous, even though we have no righteousness of our. And because of all that Jesus willingly gave for our sake, we are bestowed with every spiritual gift. Furthermore, He has promised to transform our hearts into His image—completing the work He began in us. We have this hope because He has demonstrated this throughout His Word. God draws a straight-line with crooked pencils. He always has.
This we will see clearly as we study the inspiring hope filled book of Zechariah, Haggai, and Esther. God chooses at times the most unlikely to accomplish all He wills.
“I made myself available to those who did not ask for me;
(And) I appeared to those who did not look for me.
I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’
to a nation that did not invoke my name.
I spread out my hands all day long
to my rebellious people, … Isaiah 65:1-2 NET
God Draws Straight lines with Crooked Pencils
Why would God choose the broken? Look at these words in I Corinthians.
26 For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no human may boast before God. 30 But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” I Corinthians 1:26-31 (NASB).
Why would God proclaim a Nation His?
Some would ask why God would choose a people to call His own like the nation of Israel? For this I will turn to a sermon I heard of John McArthur1
In it he laid out 7 reasons and I recommend that you go listen for more details of each point.
- “to proclaim the existence of the true God. There had to be somebody in human society who would declare the truth about God.”
- “Secondly, He needed a nation through whom He could reveal the Messiah.”
- “Thirdly, God needed a nation to be a priest among men…. one who speaks to God on the behalf of men, who intercedes for men, and who, on occasion, will speak to men about God.” (Jesus is our high priest today—yet the concept was introduced to mankind through the nation)
- “Fourthly, God chose Israel to transmit and preserve Scripture” (the Word of God)
- “God needed a nation that could show the world that He was a faithful God.”
- “Sixthly, I think the reason God needed a nation was to show man His grace in dealing with sin. God wanted to show the world that He was gracious, and there’s no better proof of it than to see how He blessed Israel in spite of Israel’s sin. “
- “And seventh, a nation was needed to show God’s anger in dealing with unrepentance. God wanted the world to see how He dealt with sin and unrepentance and willful sin. And Israel is a perfect illustration of that.” No single nation has exemplified or shown this more than Israel. However, amid all this they also have shown God’s faithfulness and grace.
God Drawing a Straight Line with Crooked Pencils
The book of Zechariah is a book of great hope to those who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. His is a book of great prophecies that display the truth of Jesus Christ—the Messiah of God known here as “the Angel of the Lord.” It was a message to encourage the people. When Cyrus had given the order to return to Jerusalem only 50,000 of the more than a million exiles. These went with Zerubbabel. They became very discouraged and stopped rebuilding the temple. Life was difficult and they met with a lot of opposition by those nations living nearby.
The temple reconstruction began in 536 BC and then construction was abandoned. Haggai wrote to encourage the people in Then Zechariah wrote in The temple was finally completed in 515 BC. There remained many problems and issues. Esther’s acts to help reserve the Jews living in exile was 483-473 BC. Ezra went with another group of Jews in 458 BC. Nehemiah then returns to Jerusalem and guides the Jews to rebuild the city walls. He addressed both the political and spiritual breakdown among the people in addition to the construction of the wall to restore the people to God.
God Uses the Least of These
The remnant remained broken; sin filled humanity; but that is what is so amazing. God still drew straight lines with crooked pencils, always showing His faithfulness, His grace, and His fulfillment of all He foretold of. He is the same today as He was then.
A Call to the People to Follow
In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying, 2 “The Lord was very angry with your fathers.” Zechariah 1 (NASB)
This was a reminder to the people of why they had been exiled; although, with this reminder comes this hope filled command.
3 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of armies, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of armies.
With this also comes a warning.
4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the Lord. Zechariah 1 (NASB)
“Therefore, remember. I did exactly as I declared.”
5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, not overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘Just as the Lord of armies planned to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’” Zechariah 1 (NASB)
Visions of the night to bring hope-Straight Lines from Crooked Pencils
The first 8 chapters of Zechariah are 8 visions all presented in one night. Each vision is built upon the previous vision. Uniquely each vision came with an interpreter angel to explain the vision to guide Zechariah to understand.
8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ Zechariah 1 (ESV)
The one on the red horse will later be identified as the Lord who is leading God’s army. That would be a the preincarnate Christ. He is the one who will enact full judgement one day for all the evil, but here he stands among the myrtle trees. They are symbolic of messianic restoration and blessing. He is there to protect and provide. In the vision:
So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’ Zechariah 1:10 (ESV)
The Lord is our Intercessor Always
Their report was that all the other nations being at peace. History confirms this was the case under King Darius. Yet the Jews in Jerusalem were not at peace. So the mediator interceded with the Father.
Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ 13 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. Zechariah 1:12-13 (ESV)
God was going to use these imperfect people to continue to keep His promises and covenants. He declared Himself zealous for their cause.
thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it,” declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’” Zechariah 1: 16-17 (ESV)
The Remainder of the Visions
The remainder of the visions were encouraging proof that God was accomplishing all that He planned for the good of His Chosen People even though they had not been the ones we would have chosen. His love never left them. He longed for them with a burning love to do them good, if only they would return to Him.
Then the last books of Zechariah (9-14) are about the first and second coming of Jesus to earth.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9 (ESV)
And in the end: Victory
20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 14 (NKJV)
Another Perfect Example of God Drawing Straight Lines with Crooked Pencils is Esther
So often we speak of the bravery and beauty of Esther with her full love story. But consider this. She and her uncle Mordecai had chosen to remain in Persia after the edict allowing them to return had long passed. Perhaps they felt the journey was too long and arduous. Or perhaps they were too content with their life in Persia. The name Esther is her Persian name meaning star. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah meaning myrtle. Her uncle Mordecai means bitter oppressed or crushed and in Persian meant servant of Marduk (one of the Persian gods). All of this to say that theirs was not particularly the most spiritually upright. Yet, God used them to save the Jews from extinction.
Note along the historical line of things, the temple was rebuilt. There was a new king in Persia. This was Xerxes I (also known as Ahasuerus). He had no ties to the Jewish people. His first in command Haman hated the Jews as part of a heritage going back to the days of Samuel and a disobedience of King Saul to destroy the conquered people. Thus, if Haman had his way the entire Jewish race would have been annihilated stopping God’s plan of salvation for the world.
So, enters a Jewish girl who hiding her heritage is even willing to be placed in the Persian beauty contest, sleep with an uncircumcised King, and risk being placed as merely part of his haram. No mention once of even prayer, yet a gracious God chooses to draw a very straight line with a crooked pencil.
Esther Must Choose
She is chosen to be queen by the providence of God Almighty. Mordechai by chance saves the Kings life being in the right place at the right time. When Mordechai hears of the new edict to kill all the Jews, he goes to speak to Queen Esther. There is a rule that no one, not even the Queen, can go before the King without being summoned.
At first, Esther reminded her uncle that this would be impossible because of the laws. However,
13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther 4 (NASB)
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants also will fast in the same way. And then I will go in to the king, which is not in accordance with the law; and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4 (NASB)
The Providence of God Draws a Straight Line with a Crooked Pencil
She did go before the King then and God guided her wisdom to present this in a very carefully designed manner of gentleness, dinners and waiting for the perfect timing. Suddenly, she had learned to listen to God’s guiding spirit to lead her. Or was it suddenly, we are not told of her spiritual growth but it may have been sprouting before this. Then, the king had a restless night of sleeplessness that led to his becoming aware of Mordecai saving his life. All this orchestrated by a perfect divine God willing to use broken vessels to accomplish His Plan.
This is what the Lord says:
“When juice is discovered in a cluster of grapes,
someone says, ‘Don’t destroy it, for it contains juice.’
So I will do for the sake of my servants—
I will not destroy everyone.
I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah people to take possession of my mountains.
My chosen ones will take possession of the land; my servants will live there. Isaiah 65: 8-9 (NET)
How amazing is our God! So, the question is: are you willing to surrender all and trust in God. You may just be the crooked pencil He needs to write the next line in His Story.