THE SOVEREIGN LORD!
This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again. This is what the Lord says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. “And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things. —Isaiah 45:1-7
Do we forget that it is God who rises up nations and puts them down according to His timing (Acts 17:26)? Have we forgotten that God turns a king’s heart in the direction He desires it to go (Proverbs 21:1)? God is not limited to working through only those who know Him. No, He works also through those who do not. He not only calls Cyrus His servant but He also calls Nebuchadnezzar “my servant” (Jeremiah 27:6; 43:10). Yes, the Lord God Almighty is not limited to working through only those who know Him. Nor is He limited to working any less through Iran than He is in America or anywhere else on this planet. What He is looking for are those who will trust Him, love Him, worship Him, serve Him and desire Him above all else regardless of where they live on this planet or the circumstances they find themselves in.
“In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah” (Ezra 1:1). God’s plans and purposes are perfectly worked out. We do not understand so much of what He is doing. We are not God and should stop trying to determine what He is supposed to do! He will work through anyone He decides to!
We should do our part and trust Him for what He is doing. Jesus sent us into “all the world to make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20). That includes government and praise the Lord for those He has called to do so in that part of the world as much as for those He has called to go to distant lands. We are to be faithful in the area He has called us to and the sphere of ministry He moves us in. He is the Lord and does these things. Let us be faithful in the desires He has for us and trust Him for how He is working on this planet. May it be so!
Dear Father, I am so glad I need not fret over the world’s situation. May You be pleased to work in and through me to impact the lost to be found that they too may rejoice in You. Help me not to get bogged down in this world’s affairs, but to focus on what You are doing and do the part You have for me. May it be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. Yes, may it be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lay-r2g52SQ