Zechariah 3 gives us an unusual peek behind the spiritual curtain where angels argue with Satan.
Satan, often translated as "the accuser", lives up to his name by speaking words against Joshua the high priest. Joshua is dressed in filthy clothes, not befitting a priest. But rather than condemning Joshua, the angel of the Lord assures him. "Then the angel of the Lord assured Joshua, saying 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here'"(vs. 6 and 7). Satan wants to accuse and diminish Joshua and make him feel guilty. The Lord, however, sees Joshua's future rather than the problems of his past and present.
Prior to that, we read, "And the Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this man a brand plucked from the fire?'" (vs. 2) Centuries later, this phrase would be applied to John Wesley who, as a child, was rescued from a house fire. Referring to himself as a "brand plucked from the burning," Wesley took his deliverance from the fire as a sign that God had something special in mind for him.
No comments:
Post a Comment