Full of Surprises
Today’s scripture selection: Zechariah 8-14
Key Verses: Zechariah 9:9b
“See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Sometimes God comes to us in the most surprising of ways.
In this passage from Zechariah; long before Jesus of Nazareth; we hear these prophetic words of how He would one day arrive in Jerusalem – and meet His destiny.
Zechariah’s words probably sounded strange to his readers; Jesus’ actual “triumphal” entry into Jerusalem probably seemed anything but triumphal. After all, ruling kings ride war horses – not donkeys.
But God surprises us, again and again.
Today, thousands of years later, I wonder if we too sometimes miss this God full of surprises.
Too often we look for some people to “get what they deserve” – and instead God shows them mercy.
Too often we pray for material blessing – and instead God showers us with less tangible, but ultimately more meaningful, blessings.
Too often we read the scriptures through our own lenses; reading into them the meaning we want – and instead God suddenly opens our eyes to something we have never seen there before – and the real meaning of the text.
And what is the greatest “surprise” of all? That in His gentle, grace-filled way, He conquers death itself.
Resurrection – it’s one of His best surprises.
Prayer: Lord, give me eyes, ears, and a heart of faith – to see all the startling ways you love your children. AMEN.
