I Have Redeemed Them

The prophet Zechariah gives us a picture of God’s heart for His people—a heart that redeems, restores, and renews. In Zechariah 10, the Lord declares His power to deliver His people and to keep His promises. For a people prone to wander, this reminder was not only necessary but life-giving. And for us today, it is no less urgent.

The primary work of Christ in redemption, as A.W. Tozer once wrote, is “to justify, sanctify, and ultimately glorify a company of persons salvaged from the ruin of the human race.” That is what God has done in Christ—He has bought us back from ruin, and He calls us to live as a people redeemed.

God Calls Us to Live Wisely

Zechariah begins with a warning: anything that stands between us and God—no matter how appealing—becomes a tool of the enemy to destroy us. Even “good things” can become stumbling blocks if they take the place of God in our hearts. Leaders who draw people away from the Lord stand under judgment, but those who heed His Word find life and transformation.

God calls us to obedience not for our harm but for our flourishing. As Deuteronomy reminds us, when we love the Lord with all our heart and soul, He pours out blessing in due season. Sanctification, Oswald Chambers said, is not something God does “in me” as if it were apart from Himself, but rather, sanctification is “Himself in me.” To walk wisely is to walk with Christ living and active within us.

God Delivers Victory by His Own Hand

The promise of Zechariah 10 points forward to the Messiah, the One who would conquer all enemies and establish His kingdom. He is the cornerstone—the stone once rejected, now exalted. In Christ, we are not fighting for victory, but from victory. As Warren Wiersbe reminds us, Jesus has already defeated Satan.

When Christ redeems, He also restores. His people are not left unchanged but transformed by His light. And the scope of this restoration is wide: God is gathering not only Israel but people from every nation, uniting them into one redeemed family.

God Keeps His Promises for His Name’s Sake

The redemption of God is not merely about us—it is ultimately about Him. The purpose of history is the glory of God, and the plan of redemption is to gather a people from every tribe and tongue to declare His holiness.

This truth is a source of deep comfort. Whatever trials we endure, whatever valleys we walk through, we can be certain that the Lord is with us. As Psalm 23 assures us, He shepherds us step by step, never abandoning His flock. As Spurgeon once said, “You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.” Redemption humbles us so that we may boast only in Him.

Trusting and Obeying God

Obedience, though costly, is at the heart of the Christian life. Tozer noted that salvation without obedience is a contradiction. God acts on our behalf, strengthens us, secures us, and prepares us for eternity. Our obedience flows not from fear but from love—because the One who redeemed us is worthy of our lives.

In Him, we are strengthened with peace (Psalm 29:11). In Him, we are prepared for eternity, where the Lamb Himself will be our light (Revelation 21:22–27). Trusting and obeying is not drudgery but joy, for it is both for His glory and for our good.

A Gospel Response

Redemption always calls for a response. Perhaps you have not yet confessed Jesus as Lord—today is the day to repent and surrender to Him. Perhaps you are weighed down by unconfessed sin—like the prodigal, the Father stands ready to welcome you home. Or perhaps you are searching for a family of faith—then come and join this fellowship of redeemed sinners who worship God alone.

The message of Zechariah 10 is clear: God redeems His people, delivers them by His own hand, and keeps His promises for His glory. The redeemed life is one of wisdom, obedience, and joyful confidence in Christ, who has already won the victory.