Might and Power

...'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

Yesterday I got to pondering this verse I heard quoted in a talk that has had an impact on me recently. As I thought about it I asked God what the difference is between might and power. In my thinking the two are nearly synonymous. I felt the need to look them up in the original and do some personal research to find out what this verse is really implying, because the underlying truth of this passage is very important to know if I want to be successful in life. So this morning I have taken some time to look up these words as well as peruse a number of other places where they are used in the Old Testament to pick up the sense of their meanings and applications.

Might: translated from the Hebrew word chayil. This version of strength implies external power through collectiveness. It refers to power or the threat of power by amassing resources such as wealth or armed groups of men. It is often tied to the idea of intimidation by the amassing of forces of some sort. It also refers to wealth implying the ability to use that as power over others. In both cases it seems to infer the power gained through the amassing of collective resources. It is also often interpreted as the phrase, mighty men of valor.

Power: translated from the Hebrew word koach. From what I can gather from its many uses throughout the Old Testament, this word is used to describe power or strength that is generally more internal in nature. Part of this is what we sometimes refer to as 'intestinal fortitude'. It also refers sometimes to physical strength such as with Samson, but it seems to always be linked with the will and emotional strength.

So what I am starting to sense here is that God is telling me that it is not by external amassing of force and/or resources, neither is it by my own internal resources of either physical ability, emotional strength or force of will, but it is something outside of these resources by which God's will and plans will be accomplished in my life: namely, His Spirit.

What I find very interesting is a verse in Deuteronomy that also uses both of these Hebrew words and appears to me to be something of a parallel to this passage. But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power (koach) to make wealth (chayil), that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

It is not by my abilities or resources, either individually or collectively with others that I am to live and carry out God's plans for me. It is by letting go of my desires for control and instead letting God infuse me with His presence and His Spirit to synchronize me with His heart and His ways. Saying it another way, it is not by trying harder but by resting more completely in peaceful confidence in God's goodness, sovereignty, abilities and plans under every circumstance and in every situation.

This “formula” then, can be applied to nearly every situation in which I find myself, particularly in my spiritual life. If I find myself stressing out about the immaturity and dysfunction of those around me, I need to remember that it is not up to me to “fix” them or cause them to grow up. I must relax and remind myself that they are God's projects and not mine in any way. If God happens to assign me a bit role to play in assisting with their growth, then I need to be faithful to follow His guiding. But it is still none of my business as to the apparent success or failure of His work in their hearts and lives. The only thing I need to pay attention to is my own willingness to keep infused with the right spirit which will produce an atmosphere of peace in the midst of any confusion or clamor.

Even in my own life I am not to fret and worry about how I am going to get rid of my bad habits, my dysfunctional ways of relating to others or my own doubts and confusion and faults. If I will give God ongoing permission to have His way in my life no matter how I feel, He is faithful to honor that permission and to cleanse me from every attitude and spirit that is not in sync with His ways and His heart. Jesus takes full responsibility for my salvation, which is the process of restoring and healing me. I need to listen to the real message of this verse and not keep trying to resort to my own schemes and innovations to accomplish what I think is God's will, either in other's lives or in my own.

It is not by collective collusion, force, or even human wisdom that God's work and will can be accomplished. Neither is it by increasing my skills, my knowledge and pushing harder with my plans that God's ways can come to fruition. It is only by synchronizing more thoroughly my own spirit with the Spirit of Jesus that His ways and atmosphere will begin to be seen both in my own life and in my influence which will infect the spirit of those around me.