A Stick Snatched From The Fire
Heidi Nequist, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
I was sitting in the barn listening to the horses quietly munching on their breakfast, watching the rain drowning my pastures, and reading my devotional for that morning. The verse that jumped out at me was not one that I had read before in the book of Zechariah. This one line: “Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” really intrigued me. I needed to know more so I took the time to do a deep dive into the book of Zechariah in the Old Testament.
Chapter 3 opens with the high priest, Joshua, standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan, who was waiting to accuse Joshua! Just picture that for a minute, literally close your eyes, and imagine that YOU are standing in front of an angel of the Lord and the devil is waiting to accuse you! I cannot even imagine the anxiety, anticipation, and memory of every horrible thing I had done, every mean thought, every foul word I had said, the lies I had told, and sinful images that would be flashing before my eyes like a movie in fast motion. It would be horrifying! BUT GOD…
Verse 2 says, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan!” Wait, he’s not rebuking ME?? He’s not reminding ME of my sin? Nope, “the Lord rebuke YOU, SATAN!” WHOA! And then, just in case Satan didn’t get it, the angel says it again, “The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!” WOW. And now, that line that I cannot shake, “Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Again, picture yourself standing there.
Our rescue, Apollo came to us sick, emaciated, scared, broken, hungry, and thirsty. He stood looking at us when we went to get him from his pen and his eyes were dead, he was defeated, and he had given up all hope, just like Joshua standing there waiting for his sentence, but God stepped in through his angel and swooped him up. Apollo was like the burning stick snatched from the fire just before he could burn. Just like God has offered Jesus to rescue you and me!
But it doesn’t end there, verses 6-7 says, “The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: This is what the Lord Almighty says: If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I WILL GIVE YOU A PLACE AMONG THESE STANDING HERE.” God does not choose to rescue us from our own sin and filth and leave us to figure the rest out. He offers us a playbook and teammates! Remember, “those standing here” were angels of the Lord!
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
My friend, WE are Joshua. We are Apollo. We are the “burning stick snatched from the fire”. Without Jesus, we are broken and filthy and filled with sin, and without hope. We are hungry and thirsty and need something to give us strength. Jesus did that for us on the cross. He died so we could live! The imagery of this story is now embedded in my mind’s eye. Side by side I picture the priest Joshua with Satan and the angel on either side, and I picture Apollo in that filthy auction pen and me standing next to him. And then, I cannot help but see MYSELF standing to be judged, but instead, I was rescued. Rescued by the blood of Jesus.
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PRAYER
Thank You, Jesus, for choosing me. Thank You for rescuing me from the fire, for removing the filth, and for giving me hope. Amen.
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.