Cyrus
We are going to take a quick break from the Beatitudes. Last week, God met me in a special way and it was also a “Duh” moment.
What God showed me is that He will have a hold of me in my next season. He is not flustered or frantic. And the “Duh” moment is I know that. We all know know that. We’ve studied the verses and heard the sermons.
So, why do I get frantic and flustered when life or the plan changes and I am left feeling unsure?
The beginning of the chapter of Isaiah 45* starts with Isaiah telling us that Cyrus is God’s anointed and God will use him to subdue nations. (Hold onto that as we go to Daniel.)
Daniel 5 tells us that King Belshazzar takes the goblets from all the Kingdoms he and his father, Nebuchadnezzar, conquered and drinks from them at a party. He’s basically showing off for all his guests. As they are drinking, a hand appears and writes on the wall. “…the king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.” v. 5b-6
So the king brings in all his guys and of course they can’t interpret the words. Then they bring in Daniel, who does interpret them. It’s not good news for the king or Babylon. Eventually, Cyrus defeats Babylon. Now Persia is the head honcho of everything.
“In the first year of Cyrus King of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD
Spoken to Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia
to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also put it in writing:
This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given
me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a
temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up,
and may the LORD their God be with them.”
2 Chronicles 36:22-23
Cyrus made it possible for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, the walls and for the nation of Israel to return so that Jesus could be born there and fulfill all the prophecies written about Him. You can read about it in Ezra and 2 Chronicles.
Now, here’s the thing that made my knees buckle: Isaiah’s prophecy about Cyrus…. it was 150-200 years!!!!! before it actually happened.
OUR GOD IS A BIG GOD!
God named Cyrus. He said exactly what Cyrus would do. Think about all the things that had to happen in Cyrus’ life and all the things he had to walk through that brought him to the place that he would be able to do the will of God. Right down to his parents naming him Cyrus!
I wonder if he felt some things were setbacks or missteps. Maybe he got discouraged.
I’m pretty confident Cyrus had no idea He was going to play a major part in God’s plan for bringing redemption to the world.
If my God can do that, He can handle me and my life. His plan will happen. It may look different than I thought BUT He has a plan.
I can rest in the waiting and in the unknown because God knows and I can trust Him!
This may be a “Duh” Jodi, I knew that already. Or maybe you are in a similar place of a new season or not sure what the next thing looks like. Either way let’s rest in knowing that the same God, who 150 years in advance named Cyrus and appointed him something to do, has us in the palm of His hand and a purpose for us too. He isn’t flustered with the timeframe, chaos, or circumstances. He’s confident in His ability to bring it to pass in HIS timing.
Life can be overwhelming and out of control, but I think we can listen to our lives and watch for opportunities to open up - which ones change or closes - see where the needs are - ask what we are able to do or not do - then being obedient to those things can lead us.
I can forget that and I am grateful for the reminder that Cyrus taught me. God named my name long before I was born too, and has a plan! I pray that I am faithful to that.
Rest in the bigness of our God!
Have the best day!
All My Love~
Jodi xo
* I would like to thank Levi Lusko for his sermon that sent me on this journey.
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