Hoards in Secret Places

“Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
    whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
    and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
    that gates may not be closed:
‘I will go before you
    and level the exalted places,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
    and cut through the bars of iron,
I will give you the treasures of darkness
    and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
    the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
For the sake of my servant Jacob,
    and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
    I name you, though you do not know me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other,
    besides me there is no God;
    I equip you, though you do not know me,
that people 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 no other.
I form light and create darkness;
    I make well-being and create calamity;
    I am the Lord, who does all these things…’

“Thus says the Lord,
    the Holy One.., and the one who formed him:
‘Ask me of things to come;
    will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?
I made the earth
    and created man on it;
it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,
    and I commanded all their host.
I have stirred him up in righteousness,
    and I will make all his ways level.'” Isaiah 45:1-7,11–13a

God’s prophetic announcement to the godless king Cyrus unveiled His providential perfection and creative working in human history. What the world would perceive as regent against regent, swaggering power in motion, the Lord manipulated to achieve divine purposes and reveal majestic supremacy to all who would believe. He would uncover treasures now dark to reveal His unique power and faithfulness to fulfill His word, making Himself known and knowable.

How often we shrink from places of darkness, and from all we do not understand or fear uncovering. The way before us is a bronze door, unyielding. But there are treasures to be revealed in the hidden place; mysterious appointments are vaults of greatest worth. God, almighty and sovereign, is at work. He’s active in the heathen heart and deepest confusion, orchestrating in quiet His symphony of color and sound to crescendo, playing His unfolding grand piece in history and in our lives.

We must believe He is the Lord, and there is no other. We must accept by faith He has made and controls all things. Bowing before the God who knows us by name makes the way to know the light He creates. Do we seek it? Are we open to receiving everything that comes from His hand, seen and unseen, as He unfolds His perfect plans?

Are we currently struggling with limited vision, limited hope? In what situations is the devil threatening to undo us? Where do we need the Lord to adjust our eyes to the dark of circumstances so we’re able to behold His hoards held there? What facets of His mercy, kindness, generosity, and love become clear? He has our hand- will we let Him have His way?

Lord, help me seek and treasure knowing You better in secret places.