Pastor Lester Bentley

Devotional 2

(Zechariah 1:7–17)

Zechariah’s first vision takes place at night. The prophet sees a man riding a red horse standing among myrtle trees in a valley. Behind him are other horses of different colors—red, sorrel, and white.

At first the vision seems mysterious. But soon the angel explains that these riders have been sent throughout the earth to observe what is happening among the nations.

They return with a report.

Their message is simple: the earth is at rest.

From the perspective of the world, things appear calm and stable. The great empires are secure. The nations that once conquered Jerusalem are comfortable. Everything appears settled.

But heaven sees something different.

God responds with a striking statement:

“I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.”

This word jealous is not used here in the sense of human envy or insecurity. Instead, it describes the passionate love of God for His covenant people.

God cares deeply about what happens to His people.

This is why the man is pictured among the Myrtle Trees: in this culture, Myrtle trees are a symbol of love, as a red rose is for us. God wants us to see that His love is in contrast to his judgment. God’s love surpasses judgment against the righteous.

While the nations seem comfortable, God knows that His people are still struggling. Jerusalem lies largely in ruins. The temple is only partially rebuilt. Many of the returned exiles are discouraged.

So God makes a promise.

He says that His house will be rebuilt and Jerusalem will again prosper.

What is powerful about this vision is that it reminds us of something we often forget: heaven is paying attention to what is happening on earth.

From a human perspective, history is shaped by political decisions, military power, and economic forces. Empires rise and fall based on human strength.

But Scripture repeatedly tells us that something else is happening behind the scenes.

God is watching.

He is attentive to the struggles of His people. He is aware of the injustices of nations. And He is working toward a future restoration that may not yet be visible.

This truth is deeply comforting for believers today.

Sometimes it can feel as though the world moves forward without any concern for God or His people. Nations make decisions that seem indifferent to righteousness. Powerful voices dominate culture and public life.

But the vision of the myrtle trees reminds us that heaven is not indifferent.

God is watching history unfold, and He remains committed to His people.

And when the time is right, God moves history toward His purposes.

Reflection

Even when the world seems calm and indifferent, God is still watching and caring for His people.