Given that most of us have not lived in a polytheistic culture or have found polytheism (belief in many gods) particularly compelling, it is easy to miss the significance of these passages in Isaiah that speak about Cyrus. Cyrus was the Persian emperor who conquered Babylon in 539 BC. In the ancient Near East each nation claimed to have its own gods. The idea that one God would be in control over all nations was a radical idea that would not have occurred to anyone at the time. Nations and people were seen as the pawns in the various battles of the gods. Here, the God of Israel, a small nation of captives, claims sovereignty over the nations who overpowered them. In fact, God is saying here that he himself raised up Cyrus in order to set his people free. It is a remarkable perspective for its time but equally significant for us today. Think of all the people that have had some influence in your life. Teachers, employers, leaders etc. Whether they were or are Christians, God was and is using them in your life. He wants you therefore to honour the people around you, especially those in authority over you. God uses people in different ways. All people are subject to God’s sovereignty whether they acknowledge it or not. This doesn’t mean that they will do the right thing. What it means is that God will use others, however ungodly they may be, to bring something good out of you and/or to bring about some good for you.
Recognise those who have influenced your life whether Christian or not and think about who you can honour today.
Read Isaiah 44:24-45:25
