Who Does This?

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

“‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.’

“Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord. And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, gold, goods, beasts, and costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods… Mithredath the treasurer… counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah..: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles [came] from Babylonia to Jerusalem.” Ezra 1:1-11

Sometimes merciful and benevolent, sometimes ruthless in battle and judgment, always strategic, the heathen King Cyrus of Persia was moved by God. The one who would declare after defeating Babylon, I am Cyrus, king of the universe,* was himself subject to a higher power, and knew it. The release of Jewish captives from Babylon to rebuild the temple was instigated not by this inspirational leader but by the Sovereign who inspired him. Even a great king has a driver.

*According to the Cyrus Cylinder, discovered in 1879

Sometimes we wonder at how situations can get so bad. Civil unrest, tribal wars, crumbled marriages, brilliant business plans gone awry all seem beyond remedy. But instead of reacting with fatalism, hand-wringing, or despair, we can look beyond to the God who rules all things. Who can help or effect change? Who inhabits the impossible? When we’re flummoxed at what’s happening or how a situation can turn around, we can absolutely trust the One at the Master controls.

Man goes about his business, and the Almighty performs His. Man makes his plans and the Lord directs his steps. Man speaks his intentions and God’s word prevails. Every idea is inspired, every effort energized, by the good and eternal Ruler of all. He is trustworthy! (Proverbs 16:9; 19:21; Isaiah 14:24; 44:28-45:1-6a,7; 46:10; Ezekiel 12:25)

Father, help me trace and trust Your sovereign hand in this dark world.