GOD’S WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OURS
King Cyrus made an attempt to correct wrong that King Nebuchadnezzar did. How did it happen? It is impossible to think that a king from different origin but a powerful one respected God and returned the things belonged to the Loving and Living God.
“Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god. Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.”
Ezra 1:7-8 NIV
God works in the hearts of people to turn their hearts back to Himself. The amazing thing is that He turned the heart of an enemy king to favor His people and allow the work of Temple and work of the city of Jerusalem to start.
“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’ ””
Ezra 1:1-4 NIV
Today, if we are facing challenges because the people in the authority are against us, remember the heart of the king is in the hands of God. He is able to turn that person’s heart to our favor and can make him return all that belongs to God and His people.
Blessed Sunday to each one of you!
“In the Lord’s hand, the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.”
Proverbs 21:1 NIV
Amen.