What Are You, Mighty Mountain?

Zechariah 4:6
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 4:7
“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

What are you, mighty mountain? This question is directed to the mountain. This question does not expect an answer from the mountain. The one asking is actually showing the epitome of contempt to the mountain. What are you, mighty mountain?

It seems the mountain had presented itself as unconquerable. It seems the mountain stood as an invincible barrier. It seems the mountain had troubled other people. Now the mountain has found its match and the question announcing the end of the mountain’s reign as a barrier is now made. What are you, mighty mountain?

The emphasis of the word mighty adds to the insult to the mountain since the mountain is no longer mighty. The writer chose that word to nail the truth home that the mountain is no longer mighty. If the mountain was ever mighty, it was in the past. What are you, mighty mountain?

God chose Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem after the captivity. The initial works were depressing. It clearly seemed a poor job compared to the former temple. Actually the prophet Haggai said it seemed like Zerubbabel was doing nothing. God sent a message to encourage Zerubbabel to keep working on the nothing since God will make it something. Nothing With God Is More Than Something. In our passage today, God sends Zechariah to encourage Zerubbabel.

Zechariah tells Zerubbabel that He will succeed. Zechariah tells Zerubbabel that his success will not be by mighty nor by power but by the Spirit of God. Solomon built a magnificent temple and he had the might and power of a king and great economy. Zerubbabel had none of what Solomon had. Therefore Zerubbabel’s success had to be based on something else and it was something better, the Holy Spirit of God. The task ahead of Zerubbabel looked like an immovable mountain, but with the Spirit of God driving him, the mountain was no challenge and no barrier, hence the question. What are you, mighty mountain?

We may not have might. We may not have power. We may not have the most resources that give others an advantage over us. But if we do our best and trust God, we have access to the Holy Spirit of God. By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, no mountain we face is a barrier to our success. We too can confidently look at any mountain of our life and ask it the same question that Zechariah asked. What are you, mighty mountain?

Zechariah tells the mountain that before Zerubbabel it will be flattened. It will be made level ground. It will be made plain. Before Zerubbabel the mountain is nothing. But before others who lack the Spirit of God, the Mountain is a real barrier. Therefore the mountain is only a real barrier to those who may want to use might and power. But to those who choose to approach it with God’s Spirit, it will be flattened and they can ask Zechariah’s question. What are you, mighty mountain?

Each and every one of us faces various mountains every day. Mountain of loneliness. Mountain of rejection. Mountain of getting overwhelmed by assignments. Mountain of addiction. Mountain of financial challenges. Mountain of poor health. Mountain of academic challenges. Mountain of betrayal. Mountain of haters. Mountain of the toxic environment. The Mountain can be things, people, or situations. The mountains are real barriers in life if you are without God. With God’s Spirit, the mountain will be flattened by you and me. With that faith and hope, we can look at the mountain standing on our way today and ask it Zechariah’s question. What are you, mighty mountain?

Dear Holy Spirit, dwell in me, change me so that I only trust You. After I have done what I must do as a human being, may You, dear God, help me flatten the mountains standing on my way today. May I face the mountains with faith and confidence of Zechariah and ask the same question he asked. What are you, mighty mountain? In Jesus’ name, Amen!

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