It has been my observation that we can know for sure Cyrus was called by God to move against Babylon. Consider how thick the walls were (you could ride six chariots side by side on top of the wall). Consider how long the Babylonians ruled (centuries). Yet our God says – there is no God beside me, I have prepared you to attack and subdue Babylon. Then we hear the message of God that tells Cyrus — it is not your idols that made this happen. They did not prepare you; they did not give you authority to attack, and they did not give you the ability to succeed. I, the Lord God did this.
Over and over, we are told that God can use anyone for anything. The allegiance of the person does not matter, only the will of God matters. The idols of Cyrus are inert — made by ordinary men. God knows Cyrus. God empowers Cyrus.
Isaiah 44:9-11 says — All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing? People who do that will be put to shame; such craftsmen are only human beings. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and shame (NIV).
I wonder what Cyrus thought about this. More than likely, he took it in stride, pleased it was happening, but I bet he struggled to wrap his mind around this stuff. Isaiah was talking to any city that would have him. He put the message out. The known world became aware by God’s providence, and by the testimony of the suffering Jews in Babylon. Every person, from the east and from the west, sunrise, and sunset, was hearing the message — Our Lord is God and there is none else. The wonderful deliverance that authenticated the message proclaimed to all who would listen — there is none like the God of Jeshurun, that rides on the heavens for their help.
Isaiah 44: 24-28 says — I am the Lord, Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, It shall be inhabited, of the towns of Judah, They shall be rebuilt, and of their ruins, I will restore them, who says to the watery deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your streams, who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, Let it be rebuilt, and of the temple, Let its foundations be laid (NIV)
I think about wandering about the city in the university area. There are musicians playing songs about every subject under the sun. Occasionally there is a street preacher or a Harikrishna group on the corner speaking out for all to listen. In a previous life I was one of those street musicians making a little music for pocket change, talking with listeners, watching little kids dance to the sounds I was making. Then I grew into festivals and concerts. Still the same message. People listened, transported someplace else for a bit of a rest; and so, it was with Isaiah. He went out, found an audience, and started talking. People were curious, they listened. Things started happening. They listened a little closer. People found the answers. They knew that Cyrus was coming to emancipate them from Babylon. It was true.
Fast forward three thousand years and it is Billy Graham, delivering the same message Isaiah delivered to the curious and the downtrodden. People want answers. The message we responded to is the answer given by Isaiah – God’s grace and redemption. Make haste, the time is close. Yield, God is calling.
I choose Jesus.