Whistle While He Works Series

Zechariah 10: 1- 12

Whistle while He works

1 Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone. 2 For the idols speak delusion; the diviners envision lies, and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd. 3 “ My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goatherds. For the LORD of hosts will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle. 4 From him comes the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together. 5 They shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame. 6 “ I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; for I am the LORD their God, and I will hear them. 7 Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. 8 I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them; and they shall increase as they once increased. 9 “ I will sow them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me in far countries; they shall live, together with their children, and they shall return. 10 I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, until no more room is found for them. 11 He shall pass through the sea with affliction, and strike the waves of the sea: all the depths of the River shall dry up. Then the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. 12 “ So I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they shall walk up and down in His name,” says the LORD.

Have you ever dreamed of finding a genie in a lamp where you could get three wishes? Our Pastor, who is in charge of the prison ministry, always tells the same joke because the prisoner population has a new turnover each time he visits. He always sets them up by asking if they had heard of the attempted prison escape? He tells them that three inmates dug under the wall and came upon this metal canister. When one rubbed the jar to see if it had any writing on it, a genie appeared. He told them that since there was three of them; they would be granted one wish each. The first guy wished to be on a tropical island with 50 beautiful women and all the food and beer they could consume for a lifetime. All of a sudden this guy disappeared. The second guy wanted the same as his partner except he wanted twice as much. Wham, he disappeared. The third guy started crying. The genie asked him what was wrong. He said he missed his friends and wished they were back with him.

I hope you got the punch line.

Our Holy God Is Awesome. He provides us with great gifts that we do not deserve. He says this to us in the gospel of Matthew chapter 6 verse 8, ‘Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.’ I also like these passages;

Matthew 7: 7 - 11, ‘Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!’

John 14: 13 – 14, ‘And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.’