Isaiah 45:1-8 – All events happen to work out His sovereign purpose

The reason Cyrus was successful in his dominion of the nations was by and large because of Yahweh. He was the One who had it all worked out to use this Persian monarch to execute His plan to deliver His chosen people, or as Isaiah puts it, “Jacob My servant.” Did Cyrus know that he was God’s instrument? Here in verse 1, we are told that the LORD Himself made it known to him. He was referred to as the LORD’s anointed. Perhaps he did not know initially but at some point, he must have sensed the hand of God working through him. Why do we say so? Ezra 1:2 tells us that Cyrus himself acknowledged it. The verse reads, “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 rebuild for Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”

Cyrus himself acknowledged that his far-reaching success was accomplished with the help of Yahweh. Through him, God overcame nations, opened strong doors, broke down resistance, and granted him great treasures. God did all these for two objectives. Firstly, to use Cyrus, a pagan king, to deliver His people. Secondly, through his success, everyone in the world would know that Yahweh alone is God and there’s no other who can claim to be God. He alone sovereignly controls the universe and releases righteousness as rain from heaven, to effect salvation so that His righteousness may reign on earth.   

Verse 7 says that God is the one causing well-being and creating disasters. This in no way suggests that He is the source of evil. What God through Isaiah wants us to know is that experiences in life, both positive and negative, will not happen without His permission. And both good or bad that had happened or will ever happen to His people serve to work out His purpose in their lives. His ultimate plan is still for righteousness to reign and the earth be divinely blessed.   

Knowing that everything happens to accomplish God’s sovereign purpose gives us a fresh perspective on all circumstances we ourselves experience. A passage like this helps us to see that everything that happens to us, good or bad, is working out God’s plan in our lives. Whatever happens to us will ultimately affirm His greatness, reveal His glory, and release His blessing in and through us. The reason we are still facing hard times is that God is not through with us yet. Ultimately, you will marvel when you see His finished work in you!   So be patient with God, with others, and with yourself.