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Zechariah 3 · Grade 5

A Burning Stick Plucked from the Fire

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Read and Think

Zechariah's fourth vision moves into a courtroom scene. Joshua the high priest stands before Yahweh's angel, and Satan stands at his right hand to be his adversary. Before Satan can win, Yahweh speaks: Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn't this a burning stick plucked out of the fire? God himself defends Joshua.

Joshua's filthy garments show his need. The angel commands those standing by, take the filthy garments off him, and says to Joshua, behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing. A clean turban is set on his head. The text itself explains what the change of clothes means: iniquity taken away and replaced with something rich and clean.

God then charges Joshua to walk in his ways and promises, I will bring out my servant, the Branch. He speaks of a stone with seven eyes and says, I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. The vision ends with peace: you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree. Christians believe this picture of a guilty person given clean garments points to the forgiveness the New Testament says God offers through Jesus.

Show What You Know

  1. Who defends Joshua against Satan?

  2. What does the text say the change of clothes means?

  3. What does God promise to remove in one day?

  4. What picture of peace ends the chapter?

Crossword

51423

Across

  1. The stone that I have set before ____.
  2. He showed me Joshua the high ____ standing before Yahweh’s angel.

Down

  1. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy ____.
  2. Let them set a clean ____ on his head.
  3. Let them set a ____ turban on his head.

Think About It

  1. Joshua stood accused, but God answered for him. How does it feel to know God defends and forgives his people?

  2. God replaced filthy clothes with rich clothing. What does it mean to you to be made clean by God?

Memory Verse

He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, “Take the filthy garments off him.” To him he said, “Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing.”

Zechariah 3:4 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for forgiving my sin. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How does it feel to start fresh after being forgiven?
  • Who can you forgive this week?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.