Today’s Thought “When No One Will Lead” G. Ward

Ezra 1:1-2

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”

Amazingly we’ve become witnesses to the Almighty’s Sovereignty with His selection of this pagan King 150 years before his birth (Isa.44:28). While the chieftain of knowing Holy God remains obedience, the Old Testament’s designation for Israel to be a separate people desired they’d be priests to every nation thereafter – to then experience unfortunate captivity then leadership by “strange fruit” (cf. Deut.28:32-34).

We’re now required to submit to authorities (*Ro.13:1-5) and our submission therein is contingent on whether we like the imposed leader. As Cyrus was used to bring a people belonging to God into a future hope, will all our analyzing and rebellion determine bondage as best? Furthermore, have we in our finite beings lied by mandating Holy God get the glory (in all things) even if it means our own destruction (cf. Ro.8:18)? He wouldn’t do that to us Greg! Did HE not love Israel?