He's God of the Future

Isaiah has been taunting idolatry by saying God is God alone.

He has repeatedly pointed out the silliness of idols.

He has declared that God alone can declare the future.

Now he is going to predict the rise of Persian King Cyrus for HIS OWN PURPOSES.

Ezra 1:1–5 HCSB

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lord put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing: 2 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 Let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.” 5 So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone God had motivated —prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord’s house in Jerusalem.

Restoration of God’s People

Isaiah 44:24–28 HCSB

24 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb, says: I am Yahweh, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by Myself; who alone spread out the earth; 25 who destroys the omens of the false prophets and makes fools of diviners; who confounds the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness; 26 who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers; who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,” and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,” and I will restore her ruins; 27 who says to the depths of the sea, “Be dry,” and I will dry up your rivers; 28 who says to Cyrus, “My shepherd, he will fulfill all My pleasure” and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”

God predicts the future with such precision that many people want to say this part of Isaiah was written during the reign of Cyrus, and only pretends to be predictive prophecy.

But THIS WOULD MAKE GOD NO DIFFERENT THAN THE IDOLS. Which is the very point Isaiah is arguing.

Reign of Cyrus lasted 30 years. Largest world empire up to that time.

Spread from Eastern Europe to Asia.

Cyrus had a policy of respect of the religions and customs of the lands he conquered.

This is what allowed the Jews to return to their land, and the prediction about this in Isaiah actually refers to Cyrus as a Annointed. This is the same word as Messiah, or Savior. Annointed is often used to designate a priest, or a king, and certainly THE MESSIAH, JESUS. Cyrus is the only non jewish person to be given this designation.

Retribution for God’s People

Opening doors

Isaiah 45:1–2 HCSB

1 The Lord says this to Cyrus, His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him and the gates will not be shut: 2 “I will go before you and level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.

Paving the Way

Isaiah 45:2 HCSB

2 “I will go before you and level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.

One of the recurring themes of this second section of Isaiah is “paving the way”

Smoothing out the path… leveling uneven places. lowering mountains and exalting valleys.

Supplying the need

Isaiah 45:3 HCSB

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I, Yahweh, the God of Israel call you by your name.

Remember that in Ezra it is recorded that Cyrus decreed the use of other people’s treasures. This is a redistribution of wealth to accomplish God’s purposes.

God says he will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory.

Using what and who HE chooses

Isaiah 45:4–5 HCSB

4 I call you by your name, because of Jacob My servant and Israel My chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know Me. 5 I am Yahweh, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know Me,

God is not restricted to those who call him savior, to use them for the good of his people and His own glory.

As a matter of fact, when someone that you wouldn’t expect does something to your benefit, that’s God at work.

I have seen this happen over and over again,

Woman whose food was provided by an Atheist: “Thanks for answering my prayer and using the devil to do it”

Establishing that He is God ALONE

Isaiah 45:5–7 HCSB

5 I am Yahweh, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know Me, 6 so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but Me. I am Yahweh, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I, Yahweh, do all these things.

Bringing salvation to the Earth.

Isaiah 45:8 HCSB

8 “Heavens, sprinkle from above, and let the skies shower righteousness. Let the earth open up so that salvation will sprout and righteousness will spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.

This moves beyond the immediate context of the deliverance Cyrus will bring. This speaks to the plan of God to secure salvation to those who will trust in THE MESSIAH, JESUS.

God is never just concerned about supplying the need for the day. His ultimate goal is total deliverance from the Devil, from Hell, and from ourselves.

Application:

God alone is God

He knows the future and causes things to come to pass.

If he can accurately predict what will happen with Judah, then you can trust Him with what is going on in your life.

What problems are you facing? God is there. God is at work!