Isaiah 45

“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, 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"

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Ray Stedman suggests this is one of the most remarkable confirmations that God is the God of history. He is in control, whether men know it or not. He regulates the affairs of nations and takes full responsibility for all that they ultimately do, even though they do not recognize this. What an encouragement this ought to be to us when we see the high and the mighty of earth strutting about in vain ambition, making great promises of what they are going to do. Let us recognize that they only can do what God says they can do. 

Cyrus was a powerful and wealthy man. If we don't pay attention we'll think the bad guys are getting away with something. "What is God up to?"  God says it's for the sake of Israel my chosen. He says. "It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty.” Cyrus had to have been thinking..."why on earth am I doing this? I'm getting nothing out of it!"

The bad guys are never winning...

If humanity can get our head around the idea that God is orchestrating history for his purposes and our benefit...rather that argue about His right to do so...I believe we would take an entirely different approach. When humanity is willing to acknowledge the mighty acts of God as "the mighty acts of God" we will honor Him as God. At that point we will understand when He says “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other...Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength."

It's a lens through which we all must look if we hope to find purpose and meaning in life. Even so...many don't...which is foolishness. After all, as C.S. Lewis suggested, "To argue with God is to argue with the very power that makes it possible to argue at all." How foolish man is to attempt that!"

Live boldly out there today...