God Uses Anyone To Remind Us He Can Save Anyone

If you were an ancient Israelite, you may have had problems with God using a pagan king named Cyrus as his instrument for restoring Israel back to her land and temple. After all, can't God use someone we approve of who follows His law? Shouldn't God do that? 

This is Isaiah's response on behalf of God to those questions:

Isaiah 45:11 (ESV) Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

Can we really expect to tell God how to use what He has created? Even those of unbelieving traditions? God is God and not subject to our specifics in technique and operation. 

Isaiah 45:12–13 (ESV) I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. 13 I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the LORD of hosts.

God makes it clear - all things are from Him. He is the author of what we see and experience. Cyrus is stirred up in righteousness and God will make his way straight to bring Israel back. This is the Lord's choice. 

So many times we question the leaders in our world or country. How could God allow "them" to be in charge? Does He not know who they are and what they have done? But are we not also failed sinners whom God has chosen and saved? Were we not also dead in trespasses and sins? Failed men and women in leadership positions are used by God to do what He wants to remind us that no perfect people exist save one. And we are not Him. 

Isaiah 45:15–17 (ESV) Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior. 16 All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together. 17 But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.

The New Living Translation says, "God works in mysterious ways". Then verse 16 talks about the failure of our idols. What we make acts in ways we expect. We know God is God when we don't comprehend all that He does. A "god" you totally understand is a "god" of your own making. 

Then God declares through Isaiah the words that no Israelite would have understood. 

Isaiah 45:20 (ESV) “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.

God calls the nations to himself! Talk about unexpected things from the mysterious God. Then Isaiah speaks of the guarantee that people from all nations will respond to God's offer!

Isaiah 45:22–23 (ESV) “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Now you can start to understand why God chose to use Cyrus to save Israel from exile and restore them to their land. So they might know the Gentiles no longer as enemies but people God can save and use. 

As Christians, do we see the unbelievers around us like that? Do we realize that the great obstacle against us could be the next Saul of Tarsus and join us? Our God can save and desires all men to come to repentance. And even those who don't will be used for His saving purposes. Just ask Cyrus, Pharoah or any other former "kings" of the "world."