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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Isaiah 45:1
“This is what the Lord says to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him.”
Remember what I said to you about this guy?
This is prophecy in its fullest form. Not only Spirit-breathed but futuristic. When Isaiah said these words, ‘Cyrus’ had not even been thought of – literally. He was not born, and wouldn’t be for another 100 years or so. The kingdom most likely to attack Israel and the threat to them at that time was Assyria. Cyrus was from Persia. Yet under the Holy Spirit’s anointing, Isaiah specifically mentions Cyrus, who lived approximately 150 years later, by name.
Cyrus was not even a God-fearer, let alone a God-worshipper. He was neither a Jew nor a Hebrew. He had his sights on world domination, not on rescue and restoration. But God used Him to accomplish His purposes. He used him to rebuild Jerusalem, the Temple and effectively the nation of Israel.
God said to the yet ‘unborn’ Cyrus, “I will go before you and will level the mountains, I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I AM the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob My servant, of Israel My chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honour, THOUGH YOU DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ME. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none beside Me. I am the LORD and there is no other” (v 2–6).
“‘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” (v 13).
Listen to the end of this chapter, “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’ All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame’” (v 22–24). And Paul repeats this vision in Philippians 2:9–11.
The time is coming when Christ shall indeed be seen as both King of all kings and Lord of all lords. All these verses will come true, just as Isaiah’s prophecy about Cyrus came true.
Remember this, too – God is not mocked. Those who rebel against Him are held accountable.
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