Have you heard about Cyrus the Great who reigned over Persia between 539-530 BC? Much is said of him in Isaiah 44:24-45:13. What is amazing is that what is written of him was written about 150 years before he was born.
It’s quite something. Cyrus makes a proclamation acknowledging God’s direction to him and that is recorded in Ezra 1:2-4.
Isaiah 44:28 NKJV reads,
Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,
And he shall perform all My pleasure,
Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”
In Ezra 1:2-4 NKJV we have Cyrus’ proclamation, which reads,
2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.
4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
During Cyrus’ reign, the foundations of the temple were laid.
Who is like our God that can reach through time and speak to a man by name?
You are known by Him as well, and long before you were born. And for all people that He foreknew would believe in His Son, to those He has made marvelous promises. The first is that He has predestined them to be conformed into the image of His Son. Then there’s the promise of His calling, justification and glorification of them. Interestingly Paul speaks of these as past tense. The destiny is already set.
Romans 8:29-30 NKJV reads,
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
This destiny is available to all that believe in His Son. If you believe, you will find that He already foreknew you’d believe and this destiny is yours.
Version History
1.00 – April 20, 2019
1.01 – June 15, 2023
Walking with God in The Way 