Isaiah 45:1-25
Q.1. Why would God identify Cyrus as the future conqueror? Was he a believer? For what purpose did God raise him up? What does this reveal about God? – (Isa.45:1-7)
Cyrus had already been named as Judah’s future deliverer. God declared – he will perform all My desire (Isa.44:28). God predicted his success – … So that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name (Isa.45:3). He would do God’s bidding – For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honour though you have not known Me (Isa.45:4). However, God had a greater purpose for Cyrus – so that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other (Isa.45:6). People needed to accept that God is absolutely sovereign over the affairs of the nations, and that He is the – One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being, and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these (Isa.45:7).
Q.2. Why should we place a limit on questioning God’s ways? What does God want His people to acknowledge about Him? How would Cyrus be used by God? – (Isa.45:8-17 c.f. Ezra 1:1-4))
It is one thing to ask genuine questions, but another to quarrel with our Maker, since we are as clay in the Potter’s hand (Isa.45:9-10). This is accentuated by the fact that God is totally righteous is all His ways (Isa.45:8). He reminded His people that He created everything for His purpose, and had already made extraordinary plans for their future, even before they would go into exile – I have aroused him in righteousness and I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city and will let My exiles go free, without any payment or reward (Isa.45:13). He encouraged them with a wonderful promise – … Surely, God is with you, and there is none else, no other God … Israel has been saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; You will not be put to shame or humiliated to all eternity (Isa.45:14 & 17). It said much about God’s grace and sovereignty when He revealed the nation’s salvation decades in advance. Only God could know and declare such a thing.
Q.3. Why did God make the earth? How does God differ from man-made gods? What does God promise His people? Do God’s plans extend beyond Israel? – (Isa.45:18-25)
Just as the Sabbath was designed to benefit us, so God made the heavens and the earth for mankind – For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), I am the Lord, and there is none else (Isa.45:18 c.f. Mk.2:27). God does not keep His children in the dark, as do the useless man-made gods. (Isa.45:19-21). The Almighty God invites us all to Him, since – … there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God, and a Saviour; There is none except Me (Isa.45:21). The Lord is accessible to the whole world, and He gave this invitation – 22 Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance (Isa.45:22-23). He then made a staggering prediction about Israel’s future – In the Lord all the offspring of Israel will be justified and will glory (Isa.45:25 c.f. Rom.11:25-26).