In the case of God’s people during the time of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, God’s call was that His people should rebuild His house. But beyond the physical rebuilding, the underlying call was still the need to return to worshipping Him, serving Him, and truly coming back to Him.
Through the prophet Haggai, God addressed their mindset: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’” (Haggai 1:2)
Essentially, they were saying, “It’s not yet time to set our priorities right and worship our God as we ought to.” Yet, these same people were living in luxurious houses while God’s business remained unattended to.
Does that sound familiar? Sometimes, as long as we can afford to eat, feed our families, pay a few bills, and have a roof over our heads, then God’s work can wait. We get comfortable in our daily lives, thinking that we can always prioritize God later. You see, the closer we examine ourselves, the more realistic and relatable the scriptures become, and the more gracious we become toward the lives we study and learn from.
God was calling them to pay attention to what was happening in their lives, despite the seeming comfort and abundance they thought they had. He said “You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!” (Haggai 1:6).
A close look at some lives today, and this scripture truly hits home.
For some people, it feels as though they go from trouble to trouble, from one storm to another. They work tirelessly to make a living, only to see their earnings vanish into endless hospital bills, unforeseen problems, and never-ending struggles. They get a job, only to face opposition at work and eventually lose it. They finally find someone they want to marry after a long time of waiting or searching, only for the man or woman to serve them a ‘cold breakfast’ (a painful and abrupt end to something they had hoped for). It’s like a dream that slips away at the last moment. They keep moving in frustrating cycles, barely hanging on, feeling like life itself is against them.
They are doing everything except seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, or at least seeking it with their whole hearts (Matthew 6:33). They are busy with everything but God’s work. Some have even clearly heard His call, but they keep pushing it aside, thinking they’ll focus on it later, ‘once everything else is in order’. God, I’ll be right back; let me just quickly handle this or that. Or can You sort this out first, and then I’ll give You my full attention, Lord?”. My people would say, ‘God, abeg, help me run this package, and You gat me; body and soul.’
Jesus Christ was clear about what ought to come first when He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). The very things they were chasing after, yet losing, would have been generously given to them if they had focused on God’s work.
God’s word through Haggai was simple and direct: “Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.” (Haggai 1:8)
In other words; Salewa, answer my call. The truth is, for some people, the devil isn’t their biggest problem; it is God, in His mercy, who is resisting them.
“You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.” It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills; a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” (Haggai 1:9-11)
Yet, even in His rebuke, God was extending an opportunity for obedience. And finally, the people responded: “Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God… and the people feared the Lord.” (Haggai 1:12)
The message today is simple:
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart…” (Psalm 95:7-8). Will you listen?
