God’s Angel then charged Joshua, “Orders from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: ‘If you live the way I tell you and remain obedient in my service, then you’ll make the decisions around here and oversee my affairs. And all my attendants standing here will be at your service. Careful, High Priest Joshua—both you and your friends sitting here with you, for your friends are in on this, too! Here’s what I’m doing next: I’m introducing my servant Branch. And note this: This stone that I’m placing before Joshua, a single stone with seven eyes’—Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies—‘I’ll engrave with these words: “I’ll strip this land of its filthy sin, all at once, in a single day. At that time, everyone will get along with one another, with friendly visits across the fence, friendly visits on one another’s porches.” -Zechariah‬ ‭3:6-10‬ ‭MSG‬

When I read, I have this tendency to want to read in character; to which, this scripture throws such a curve ball at me. I begin with a very firm, almost militant voice, Orders from God-of-the-Angle-Armies says remain obedient, follow orders, and you will move up the ranks, sir, yes, sir. Salute. Then a warning, Careful, both you and your friends are in on this too! Which I can keep in tone no problem… but then! the warning transitions into the Servant Branch. In our world, militaries dominate. They can defend, but they can also crush. What is this Servant Branch? And I think, yep, this is my God. Perfectly opposite of this world, the first shall be last and the last will be first. Of course, the Servant Branch… and the tone softens… the Stone, the perfect Stone with seven eyes will strip this land of its filthy sin… Still a slight edge in my inner dialogue, but praising Jesus now, our Perfect Stone. Then, He lays it out so all hardness melts away. For when the Sin is gone, everyone will get along with friendly visits on one another’s porches. And I finish reading this and think – He did it – He took me from militant to loving in just five verses. I say this with a little jest and a little seriousness. I am humbled at how upside down our thinking can be when we try listening to God’s word. Perhaps there was never a ‘human-militant-tone’  but instead a longing in His tone the entire time – simply a desire for His lost children to understand, really understand that the plans He has for us are Good. (Jeremiah 29)