Readings for today: Isaiah 45-48, Psalms 119:33-64
I recently was talking to a friend about my desire to plant churches in some of the hardest to reach places on earth. Places that are dangerous. Places that are full of darkness and violence and life-threatening poverty and despair. Places where it’s hard to get a visa to travel. Places where the US State Department has issued a “Level Four” travel advisory which essentially means “do not go.” Places where safety and security are not guaranteed. My friend works on anti-poverty issues on a global level and he knows these places. He’s been to some of these countries. And he knows some of the leaders there personally. He was sharing with me how some of these leaders have begun to have visions and dreams from God. They are being called to open their doors to Judaism and Christianity in order to bring the three great Abrahamic faiths together. They are asking him how it can happen. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty over the nations of the earth.
In today’s reading, God declares His sovereignty over Cyrus the Great. Cyrus believes he is conquering the world through his own strength. Cyrus believes his own god is giving him great success as former empires like Babylon fall before him. Cyrus believes his military genius and exceptional leadership ability is winning the day. Isaiah looks at all that will happen and sees a different power at work. Though Cyrus doesn’t know God, God knows him. God is using him to bring about His judgment on Babylon. God will use him to bring his people from exile back home. God will give Cyrus what he needs to be successful though he has not earned it and does not worship the true and living God. God will do this for the sake of His beloved Israel. “I will go before you and level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two. I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord. I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. I call you by your name, for the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know me, so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I am the Lord, who does all these things.” (Isaiah 45:2-7 CSB)
It’s hard for us to look around the world today and see God’s sovereign plan at work. We have this false notion that if God is good then He will relieve all suffering. He will protect us from all pain. He will heal every heartbreak. He will cause every war and act of violence to cease. At the same time, we refuse to bow the knee to Him. We refuse to submit to Him. We do not want Him to control our lives or tell us what to do. We want to be free to make our own decisions and choose the course of our lives. Friends, we cannot have it both ways. The Bible is clear. God is working His sovereign will out on the earth. He will bring His plans to pass. “By myself I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to me, every tongue will swear allegiance.” (Isaiah 45:23 CSB) But He will do this through His people. He will accomplish this in spite of our sinfulness and rebellion. He will achieve His perfect ends through imperfect vessels like you and me. He will use even those who do not know Him to bring about His will on the earth. “I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.” (Isaiah 46:10 CSB)
God is not limited by us in any way. God is not subject to our fleeting desires or ever-changing feelings. He is not at the mercy of our weaknesses nor is He threatened by our vulnerabilities. God is God. He rules and reigns above it all. He is more than able to bring to completion the good work He has begun. His plan will come to pass. He will do His will. The question is how soon will we submit to Him?
Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 49-51, Psalms 119:65-96