45:12,13
God did not just create Israel, He made the earth and created all of mankind. Every single human being was created by God. When we look at anyone we see a created being. When we look at the universe we see the things that God has created. So on a cosmic scale everything was created by God, but this fact of God being the creator is not just a general truth, it has specific applicability as well. He was going to raise up Cyrus. Note the future tense here, entirely consistent with this prophecy being given before the events happened. This would be done in God’s righteousness. Cyrus would rebuild Jerusalem and set the exiles free, and this is what he did. Nor did he exact any charge from Israel for doing this.
45:14
We might find the language used here difficult to cope with, for it talks about the Egyptians and Sabeans comings in chains to Israel. However, we should get over this and focus on the real message. These other nations would seem so strong and to have it altogether. In this the nations mentioned were not strong militarily, but were strong economically. But a time would come when everything would be turned upside down, and they would recognise that God is God. So how are we to take this? Are we to look forward to the day when the atheists and the secularists bow down before us? No. But we are to recognise that atheism, secularism, humanism etc are complete rubbish, they are founded on lies, and that a day will come when all people will recognise that Christ is Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment