It’s Impossible!

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.’” 

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If it is marvelous (impossible) in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous (impossible) in my sight,' declares the LORD of hosts?’" (Zechariah. 8:4–6). 

Jerusalem had been reduced to rubble, like the ruined, bombed-out villages of Anbar Province that we see night after night on newscasts, entire cities completely destroyed by air strikes and urban warfare. Many will never be rebuilt and will be abandoned. Jerusalem, in like measure, was ruined beyond repair.

Yet, as Zechariah assured God's people, the city would be built again and restored: old men and women would gather in the parks and squares of the city to kvetsch and kibitz; little children would once again play unmolested in the streets. 

"Impossible," Zechariah's critics said. “No way, never happen."

But we should never allow reason or common sense to tell us what God can or cannot do. He is the God of the impossible, the one who created perfect order (cosmos) out of primal chaos (Jeremiah 32:25). Nothing is too hard for him! (cf. Genesis 11:14; Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26).

He can reclaim a life that has been ruined beyond reclamation. He can find a prodigal that is irretrievably lost. He can soften hearts that have hardened into stone. He can restore a heart that has been broken beyond repair. 

Indeed, "you will see greater things than this." There is nothing that God cannot do 

David Roper

12.25.18