The Story of the Zechariah 4 Image

Zechariah 4 

Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, "What do you see?"

I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."

 God is communicating with Zerubbabel through his prophet. The message he wanted to get across was that the task that he had assigned would not be accomplished by His might and power by itself. In fact the famous quote from this chapter is "Not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord Almighty."

I am thankful that when God communicates with us he often uses images that bounce around in our brain for a long time. That's what he did for the prophet Zechariah. he showed him a Golden Bowl of anointing oil that fed 7 lampstands, two olive trees, one on either side of the  golden lamp. 

The idea being that when he calls us to do something we often have to trust his Spirit much more than our own strength, cleverness, intelligence and wisdom. Years ago I was ministering to a group of believers who  were going through a period of time  where they felt like they had been abandoned. They were a small multiethnic group.  As I was listening to the HS on their behalf I kept seeing a bowl of oil, as I continued to listen, my sense was that this group was that bowl of anointing oil.  Many would come to be filled refreshed and sent out with hope in there hearts.  Hope that when God asks them to achieve something, anything, He always provides what is needed.  

I asked my artist friend Steve Koch to illustrate that scene from Zechariah 4,  and this image is what he provided.  I love how it communicates the supernatural provision needed at the time and the reminder to us.  Truly it is through His spirit that we accomplish, not by our own strenth or power.  

If you would like a better view of this image or would like one to hang in your house  click here.