God of Boundless Abilities

Isaiah 45:1–3 (ESV) Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: 2 “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

Isaiah 45 speaks of Cyrus, the ancient king of Persia. Even that king was under the authority of Almighty God. God will make his way level. He will break doors that are closed. he will lead him forward where God wants him to go. 

Imagine the prophet for your nation considering the king of another pagan nation God's instrument whom God will lead! But this is the Holy Scripture that invites us to see the God of the Universe and not the "god" of our own imagination. He does as He wills, not as we wish. 

Notice the phrase, "Whose right hand I have grasped". God holds the power of Cyrus and does with Him what He wants. Cyrus will be the vessel through which God will open the way for the exiles to return. 

God tells Cyrus that nothing is required concerning Cyrus' knowledge of the Lord for the Lord to do this. 

Isaiah 45:4 (ESV) For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.

It is earth-shattering for some of God's people to hear passages like this. We think world leaders need to repent before God can use them. Nonsense! God is not bound by our will or desires. God is not bound by our conversions! He can do what He wants with His clay at any time and in any way. 

Isaiah 45:5–6 (ESV) I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.

God also says to Cyrus, "I equip you, though you do not know me." Consider the leaders and world-changing thinkers through history. Is it not also possible that God gave them those thoughts and abilities without their repentance to accomplish His divine purpose throughout history? YES! Ultimately all of this is so that people may know the Lord even through the tools and gifts of people who do not know the Lord. 

I think in this case of Elon Musk. A world-changing thinker and creator. God has certainly gifted him beyond normal human ability. His actions are shaping society's travel and speech. He is not a confessing Christian but God is using him to transform culture so that censorship might be eradicated on social media. God does not need repentance or belief to use people. And that reminds us that He alone is God! Our hopes are never dashed because our God is never restricted. 

A troubling text follows: 

Isaiah 45:7 (ESV) I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.

God is going to use the wars and calamities of the nations to accomplish this. Sadly, and we cannot understand it, the troubles in our world are also used by God to bring people to Himself. But remember, God is working with a fallen creation. Sometimes the means seem dark. 

Isaiah 45:8 (ESV) “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it.

This could be the verse from which Jesus tells us the Father causes the rain to fall on the righteous and unrighteous. All good comes from Him. But only He can open the Earth and bring our righteousness out of death through His Son. 

Isaiah 45:9 (ESV) 9 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?

We fail to grasp these things when we are busy trying to figure God out according to our own understanding. In fact, Isaiah declares doom for those who fight it. He is the potter and we are the clay. Do not ask "Why this and not that?" Rather ask, "What is God saying to me and asking of my life?"

Amen.