Greetings in the name of the God who is in complete control.
In these past weeks and months, it has seemed like no one has been able to
achieve control, even though everyone has been trying to put himself in that
position! What times these are, that show man's weakness and his inability to master
the world around him.
God is in control even of the ones who think they are in
control. In Isaiah 45, He declared this truth to the mighty King Cyrus.
How did Cyrus come to power? (v. 1) God chose him. God held
his hand. God subdued nations before him. God weakened other kings. God opened
the gates.
How did Cyrus remain in power? (v. 2) God went before him.
God facilitated his path. God broke the restraints.
How did Cyrus govern effectively? (v. 3) God gave him
treasure and provision, probably including wisdom and guidance.
Why did God do this for Cyrus? First, "That thou mayest
know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel"
(v. 3). Cyrus himself was to come to know the true God and His remarkable
power.
Second, "For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine
elect" (v. 4). Through the actions of Cyrus, God was going to take care of
His people and fulfill His promises to them.
Third, "That they [men] may know from the rising of the
sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me" (v. 6). God's work
on behalf of His people through the hand of Cyrus was to declare to all who
were around that God is the only God, completely unmatched.
Might not God be fulfilling the same purposes in our day?
Directing the hearts of rulers to Himself. Providing for His people. Declaring
Himself to the world.
What is really amazing about this whole passage is that
Cyrus was greatly blessed and greatly used by God even before he knew God. God
named Cyrus, established him in power, and strengthened him "though thou
hast not known me" (vs. 4&5). God can influence, direct, and use
earthly rulers for His purposes even when those rulers are completely unaware
of who God is or that they are being established and directed by Him.
This can give us confidence that in spite of all the
craziness, God really is in control. While He may for a time allow rulers to
pursue their own agendas, those agendas might not be as thoroughly
self-designed as the rulers think they are. Furthermore, when God decides to
make a change, He can direct the heart of the king and can cause leaders to
make changes and implement new policies.
Just yesterday, President Trump announced that churches are
essential and should be allowed to open immediately and that he will oppose any
governor who continues restricting free worship. Why did Trump declare this?
Did he think this up on his own? I don't think so. I believe God guided him to
say "Enough is enough. People need to worship God, and you can't stop them
anymore." Our governor, one of the strictest in the nation, who has
repeatedly reacted vindictively toward every attempt by other state politicians
to reopen our state, yesterday made some surprising concessions by starting to
back away from his over-restrictive guidelines. Why? Because he decided to on
his own? I don't think so. There is no king, president, governor, or any other
leader that can resist the hand of God or who can stop God's work.
Why is it so important that God have such power? God Himself
states it repeatedly in this passage. He wants us to be clear about what is
happening. "That thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy
name, am the God of Israel" (v. 3). "I am the LORD, and there is none
else, there is no God beside me" (v. 5). "That they may know from the
rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the
LORD, and there is none else" (v. 6). "I the LORD do all these
things" (v. 7). "I the LORD have created it" (v. 8).
It is all about God declaring His glory, His power, His
uniqueness. Has any leader been able to come up with an effective solution? Has
any doctor been able to make fool-proof recommendations, completely effective
precautions, or reasonably implementable plans? Has any researcher been able to
develop a vaccine or effective treatment? Far from offering protection, these
leaders have actually created untold additional damage to their people through
economic ruin, mental illness, violent protests, and even danger of starvation.
If there is one thing we should have learned, it is man's inadequacy. God is
not limited. He can control and corral this at any time, and meanwhile, He will
use it to accomplish His purposes. I am reminded of Job 41, where God spends an
entire chapter describing one animal that He created, for the purpose of
highlighting His great power and man's complete inability, in spite of diligent
effort, to control what God made uncontrollable. The point is the same: if God
can create a beast that no man can capture, how great must God be!
We can be thankful for His might and wisdom. We can be
thankful for His control over all forces of nature and over all world leaders.
When I first started thinking of this devotional, it had nothing to do with
coronavirus, which didn't even exist at the time. Instead, I was thinking of
the restrictions and complications for missionary activity around the world, of
leaders and countries that oppose God or curtail the efforts to declare Him.
Just like with Cyrus, God can direct them for His purposes - to declare Himself
to the peoples - even when those leaders do not know or recognize Him.
May God accomplish His plans this week! May He declare
Himself! And may He use us to be His messengers!
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
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