+DEV+ By Grace: Ruler of Nations [20 of 27]

Date: April 3, 2013 10:57 PM
Topic: +DEV+  By Grace: Ruler of Nations [20 of 27]

By Grace: Ruler of Nations [20 of 27]

"This is what the LORD says... to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut..." (Isaiah 45:1)
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 45:1-13; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23

Let's pause here and review the dates of Isaiah's prophetic ministry - 760 to 698 B.C. Even if Isaiah had inscribed these words toward the end of his service, Cyrus, king of the Persians, would not have been born for over 100 years! He would be enthroned in 559 B.C. and reign for about 30 years. During that time, he was unwittingly Yahweh's servant. God had summoned Cyrus by name
(vs. 3b), and had established the work he was to do before he was even born.

Part of Cyrus' foreordained duty was to release the Judean captives from Babylon in 536 B.C. under Zerubbabel. It was the beginning of a new exodus, this one from Babylon and continuing under Ezra and Nehemiah. At the time of Isaiah's writing, Judah had not yet even been carried off by Babylon! In verse 7 Yahweh says: "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things." Just as Pharaoh was raised up for God's purpose (Romans 9:17), our God rules the nations through men like Cyrus.

Insight: In these troubled times, as nations rise and fall, remember that our loving Father is in absolute control of every event.




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