Isaiah 45:6
The scripture for today is Isaiah 45:6
Isaiah 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
In Isaiah’s prophecy about Cyrus, the king of the Medo-Persians, there is a profound revelation. “Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the armor of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of bronze, and cut asunder the bars of iron: And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name: I have named you, though you have not known me. I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God besides me: I girded you, though you have not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:1-6
God has, throughout history, demonstrated that He will use any instrumentality that He chooses to reveal Himself as Almighty God and deliver His people from the bondage of oppression. The children of Israel were uprooted from their homeland and transported to Babylon as captives. Through this prophecy, given more than a hundred years before Cyrus was born, God shows us that He had planned for the deliverance of His people in advance.
We may find ourselves, like the children of Israel, in situations caused by our own unwise choices. But, regardless of where we find ourselves, God is still God and His love for us remains constant. As Israel did, we may suffer the consequences of our rebellion and sin, but God has already made a way for us to escape. God’s will for us is freedom, freedom from bondage, freedom from sin, freedom from the penalty of sin.
The children of Israel were taken captive because of their sin and rebellion against God. We are taken captive for the same reasons. But, just as God did not abandon them, He will also not abandon us. God has deliverance on His mind, not bondage. God made provision for the children of Israel to return to Him, to go home, and to rebuild His temple. God has made provision for us to return to Him and become His temple. God’s Word has been and will always be fulfilled. May we embrace the clear word of prophecy and embrace the Savior to which it points.
God bless you as you continue in His service.
Tim