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Jeff WeinkaufZechariah 10:1-2
Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. 2The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Several things pop out at me this morning in Zechariah 10:1-2. First is the invitation to ASK the Lord for what we need. Ask is an action word, there’s no need to hold back. Ask Him for what we need because…it’s the Lord who sends and gives. Again, why ask Him? Because He delivers… to everyone!
Then there’s the flip side, those who not only do not deliver, but then they also make it worse by being deceitful. The net result is the “sheep” or the folks they are charged with leading are wandering and lost. Double fail.
The reminder to me is two fold. First is to look to, and ask of, the Lord. Sure He may utilize a seemingly mundane channel to answer the request, but make no mistake it is He who gives and sends what we need. No middle man needed, and by going direct there is no possibility of being misled. Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime. Second, as a shepherd I must be careful to not mislead the sheep. By that, it could mean lying, but misleading could also be just leading badly. For example a “misfire” can mean a bullet or cartridge which fails to ignite, and therefore does not fire. Or an engine which does not run properly due to a bad fuel mixture etc. Ergo misleading could be leading someone purposely away from the truth (deceit) or I think it can also be just poor leadership, a failure to lead. Both are not good.
God thank you for the reminder to look to you for all of our needs. Thank you for your patience when I fail and look to some middleman or other source. Thank you for your kind direction back to you. Thank you also for the reminder not to mislead the sheep. I know you care for the sheep Lord, and you hold us accountable for how we care for them. Please help me to love them like you do. Amen.
