Our ways are not God’s ways

This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again. This is what the Lord says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. “And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things. Isaiah 45:1-7 NLT

From the text, the coming of Cyrus proved that salvation was God’s glorious future for the world. All the events happening in our history is geared towards God’s salvation. Through Cyrus, the King of Persia, God made His presence felt. By choosing Cyrus to overwhelm kings and subdue nations, would result to Israel’s being freed from their Babylonian oppression. “And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. I am the Lord; there is no other God” (Isaiah 45:4-5). In the process of deliverance for Israel, Cyrus will come to know the One true God. Not only that, Cyrus will also be instrumental whereby the entire world will acknowledge God’s matchlessness. But why choose Cyrus an idol worshiper? Isn’t it Isaiah was emphasizing the fact that idol-worship was futile and empty? Isaiah saw that the sovereignty of God was big enough to include what we thought as offensive to us. In His all-knowing of everything, God will use whatever ways He wants for the salvation of humanity. His methods and His ways will include things we like or not. He will not be overcome by the realities that are happening in human history. Instead all the events in our lives are directed by God to accomplish His redemptive purpose. God’s choosing of Cyrus foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the midst of our human struggles, God was working His plan.

Blessings,