Keeping up with the topic of leaders, let’s look at one without a crown or a kingdom. His name is Zerubbabel [zuh-ROO-buh-buhl] 所羅巴伯 {suo3-luo2-ba1-bo2}, son of Shealtiel. Zeruba-what, you ask? Granted, he wasn’t listed as a king of Israel or Judah or named as one of the prophets. Nevertheless, he was a key figure in the history of Israel and God’s grand plan for His people.
Although Zerubbabel was not the primary feature of any Book or story in the Bible, he was mentioned in 6 different Books: Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Matthew, and Luke. At the order of King Cyrus of the Achaemenid Empire, he along with a few others led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Zerubbabel was later assigned as the governor of the province of Judah.
Ezra-Nehemiah recorded the historical events involving Zerubbabel’s effort to rebuild the temple. Haggai and Zechariah documented the two prophets’ prophecies about Zerubbabel’s endeavor. Matthew and Luke, on the other hand, indicated Zerubbabel’s descent from King David’s bloodline and ancestral relationship to Jesus Christ. So, you see, he’s kind of a big deal.
Although he was no king, had no crown, and could expect zero luxury, but all the hard work and danger instead, he served God, God’s people, and God’s will without hesitation, delay, or complaint. Make no mistake, the cards were stacked against him and the rest of the returning exiles.
Solomon’s Temple was in ruins. Jerusalem was in desolation. The walls weren’t even built until the second return led by Nehemiah much later. The people squatting their lands were hostile and cunning. That was the backdrop of their attempt to rebuild the temple. I mean, how?
An appreciation of their adversarial environment makes Zech 4:6 all the more meaningful and impactful, “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.” Indeed, God doesn’t need us to figure out how. He knows how; He is the how. Zerubbabel only needed to say “Yes, Lord”, and so will we.