“Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.”
(Zec 1:20, GW)
We are still focusing on the chapter in Zechariah that centres on the false horns of the altar. In verse 20 the four horns are called “four craftsmen”. According to Strongs this, in the original language in which the text was written, translates to “a fabricator of any material: artificer, carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, mason, skilful, smith, worker, workman, such as wrought”. Various verbs are rooted in this original meaning – “engrave, devise, to plot evil, to make silent” (Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions). I consider the word “craftsmen” a brilliant translation, as it confirms the notion of “craftiness”, which Websters describes as “Cunning; artful; skillful in devising and pursuing a scheme, by deceiving others, or by taking advantage of their ignorance; wily; sly; fraudulent.”
It is therefore not strange that Satan, who manifests himself as a snake, is described in Gen 3:1 as “more crafty than any (other)”. Thus in 2 Cor 11:3 (WEB) we find Paul stating that “the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness”.
In the word craft we find the whole spectrum of art, spiritual ability and skill, in essence: culture. Most individuals have only a very limited idea as to what culture is. It is interesting that the dictionary defines culture as: “The act of tilling and preparing the earth for crops; cultivation; the application of labour or other means of improvement.” By this definition culture includes all facets of human development, inextricably linked to the world which human beings inhabit. But the word tilling immediately connotes Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden, and the resulting curse – “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.” (Gen 3:23, KJV).
We find that tilling has two applications – the tilling of the earth, but also the tilling of the self, tilling that which is dust in order that it may become fruitful. These processes can all be classified as processes of culture. Please be careful then to not miss the importance of this fact – all that we busy ourselves with in daily life originates from a state of decay, where we gradually move from a state of order to a state of chaos, not only a law of Physics but also a spiritual and cultural principle. This state is the result of Satan’s crafty seduction of man, which entailed his removal from paradise and the fact that he is doomed to forever till himself and his world in search of some meaning. Alas we find that culture is the product of this meaningless action sans God. It is this state of affairs into which we have all been born, a state marked by a corrupted perspective of man and his world.
- Sela: Thoughtfully consider and pray about 2 Cor 11:3 and how it manifests within your life.
- Read: 1 Kings 9; Ecc 5; 1 Tim 6.
- Memorise: 1 Tim 6:6-10 (very important for the teaching following this one).
- For a deeper understanding: Read Richard J Foster’s book: Sex, money, power.
