Imagine someone who accuses and abuses you at your workplace incessantly, never letting up because of jealousy of your work done as directed and going the extra mile to give of your best, along with pride that overwhelms their thinking of others, and great envy when the boss tells you, “Well done”!  Imagine that bully standing toe to toe with the “boss” who knows what is going on and has the power and authority to take this bully down, once and for all.  We who are accused and abused by the taunting see the “take down” and we can’t help but rejoice!  Right?!

In Zechariah’s vision, Joshua is Jesus, our High Priest, Savior, and Lord versus Satan who is the Accuser.  And God wins.

Zechariah 3, The Message

Fourth Vision: Joshua’s New Clothes

^1-2 Next the Messenger-Angel showed me the high priest Joshua. He was standing before God’s Angel where the Accuser showed up to accuse him. Then God said to the Accuser, “I, God, rebuke you, Accuser! I rebuke you and choose Jerusalem. Surprise! Everything is going up in flames, but I reach in and pull out Jerusalem!”

^3-4 Joshua, standing before the angel, was dressed in dirty clothes. The angel spoke to his attendants, “Get him out of those filthy clothes,” and then said to Joshua, “Look, I’ve stripped you of your sin and dressed you up in clean clothes.”

⁵ I spoke up and said, “How about a clean new turban for his head also?” And they did it—put a clean new turban on his head. Then they finished dressing him, with God’s Angel looking on.

^6-7 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.

^8-9 “‘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.”

¹⁰ “‘At that time, everyone will get along with one another, with friendly visits across the fence, friendly visits on one another’s porches.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We must choose this day whom we will serve!  Jesus or our Accuser.  God’s Word shows us clearly, from Genesis to Revelation, who defeats the Accuser, but we choose whose side we will listen to in our daily skirmishes with the Accuser who still seeks to win a losing war for our souls.  All believers battle the Accuser daily, putting on the “full armor of God” that is provided for our protection until that day when Jesus comes back again to take us home for good—forever. 

“Choose this day whom you will serve … but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15.

“I’ll strip this land of its filthy sin, all at once, in a single day.” God did that through His Son, Jesus Christ, about four centuries later.

God is amazing.  He tells before it happens and while it is happening in full detail.  Proof that what God says is the Truth and the Way, the only way, to Eternal Life with Him.

At that time, everyone will get along with one another, with friendly visits across the fence, friendly visits on one another’s porches.  Yes, Lord, that would be heavenly!  No more Accuser, no more judgments, no more tears, pain, bullies or sadness—only rejoicing.

Yes, I choose you, Lord, Savior of my soul and Lord of my life right now.  I believe.

In Jesus Name, I believe. Yes, and Amen!