Today let’s start Isaiah chapter 45. Today I would like to talk about leaving everything to the will of God.

Ｉ. Cyrus, the anointed (Vs. 1-3)
First please look at verses 1 to 3. Verse 1 says, ”This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus.” Cyrus was as I said last week the King of the Medo-Persian Empire which destroyed the Babylon Empire. About Cyrus it says, “His anointed” (1) “Anointed” is in Hebrew “Messiah”. It means “Savior”. He was a Pagan, but he was called “His anointed.” (1) That was because he set Israel free from its captivity in Babylon. God used the pagan King Cyrus to save Israel. How Cyrus will save Israel is written in verses 1 to 3. Let’s continue reading from where we left off. “whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut; I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
Here it tells us how he will destroy Babylon and describes what it will be like. “Whose right hand I take hold” (1) means that God is going to bring Cyrus onto the stage of history and that Cyrus will rule by God’s authority. “To subdue nations before him” shows that Cyrus will destroy Midia, Lydia, new Babylonia and unify the Mesopotamia. “To strip kings of their armor” (1) means that the kings will lose their strength. Just as these words say, this actually happened to the last king of Babylon, King Belshazzar. If you look at Daniel 5 you will see, but when he “gave a great banquet”, (Daniel 5:1) “suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall.” (Daniel 5:5) The king’s “face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.” (Daniel 5:6) Also “to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut” is that the Babylon wall that was called an Impenetrable wall and it was thought that it was impossible for it to fall will be opened. As I explained last time the town of Babylon was surrounded by a wall that was 90 meters high and 24 meters wide so to break down the wall was unthinkable. However, the Lord gave Cyrus wisdom and showed him a novel way. Cyrus and his army dried up the Euphrates. They diverted the Euphrates into a canal so that the water level dropped, which allowed them to march directly through the river bed to enter the city at night and with no problem killed the Babylon King who was drunk at a party. Without shedding any blood and in only 1 day Babylon was over thrown. That is what this verse refers to.
Verse 2 “I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron” is the same thing. It is a prophecy that Babylon which was called an Impenetrable wall and it was thought that it was impossible for it to fall will be broken into small pieces. Also verse 3 says, “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places.” Usually when you lost in war so that you won’t be plundered you hide your treasures and riches in secret places so that they won’t be found. However, God will make it so Cyrus will find the hidden treasure and riches stored in secret places. Among the treasures will probably be the sacred things from the temple that the Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar brought back from the temple in Israel. Such treasures will all be given to Cyrus and then given back to Israel.
Why will God do such things for Cyrus? Cyrus didn’t believe in Israel’s God. He believed in Zoroastrianism, which the Persians believed in so he believed in a pagan god. The reason why God poured out oil and anointed Cyrus is written in verse 3. “So that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” That is so Cyrus will know that God is “the LORD, the God of Israel.” (3) For that reason God is going to the extent of using a Pagan king. In order to perform his plan, He doesn’t just use God’s people. In some cases he uses pagans, non-Christians. If God wants to use someone or something, He can do it. That’s because the Lord wants all men to know that he is the Lord, the ruler of all, the creator.
In reality when Cyrus knew this I think he must have been very surprised. Please open your Bibles to Ezra 1:1 to 4.
Ezra 1:1-4
Here it says, “the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia.” (Ezra 1:1) There are many things in history, especially in the Jew’s history that can’t be explained. This is one of them. Why would the pagan king, Cyrus take such a generous policy towards the Jews? Especially since he didn’t receive any bribes from the Jews nor by doing so he wouldn’t profit at all. It was just that “the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia” (Ezra 1:1) so he allowed the Jews to return to the land of their ancestors, and build God’s temple. He even called the people to provide “silver and gold, with good and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:4)
There was Jewish historian that lived in the same age, Josephus Ben Matityahu. In the book, he wrote “Antiquities of the Jews” , he said “This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which Isaiah left behind him of his prophecies; for this prophet said that God had spoken thus to him in a secret vision: “My will is, that Cyrus, whom I have appointed to be king over many and great nations, send back my people to their own land, and build my temple.” This was foretold by Isaiah one hundred and forty years before the temple was demolished. Accordingly, when Cyrus read this, and admired the Divine power, an earnest desire and ambition seized upon him to fulfill what was so written; so he called for the most eminent Jews that were in Babylon, and said to them, that he gave them leave to go back to their own country, and to rebuild their city Jerusalem, and the temple of God, for that he would be their assistant, and that he would write to the rulers and governors that were in the neighborhood of their country of Judea, that they should contribute to them gold and silver for the building of the temple, and besides that, beasts for their sacrifices.” In other words, when he knew that 150 years before he was born that Isaiah had prophesized and that moreover in that prophecy his own name was written, “the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia.” (Ezra 1:1) Just like it is written here, Cyrus contributed to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Until then Cyrus only thought that by his own strength he had beaten and controlled the surrounding countries, but in reality that was not so. In the background was God who controls all of history. When he knew that he was being used by God for God’s purposes and plans, he knew that the Lord is God. Therefore, he had such a generous policy toward the Jews. That was because “the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia.” (Ezra 1:1)
God controls and leads history. If you know this, like Cyrus your heart will be moved, and will be used for the purpose of God’s glory. If not, then you will be shaken by the situations that you face.
Naomi who appears in the book of Ruth was like this. Her name “Naomi” means “pleasant”. However, when she returned to her hometown Bethlehem, she said to the women of the town, “Don’t call me Naomi…Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.” (Ruth 1:20) “Mara” means “bitter”. The reason she said this was Naomi lived with her husband, Elimelech, in Bethlehem. However, because of famine they moved with their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, to the country of Moab.
However, while they lived there, her husband, Elimelech, died. She must have been so lonely and helpless having lost the man of the house. Then her two sons married Moabite women. “After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.” (Ruth 1:4,5) Naomi didn’t know how she was going to be able to live, but she heard “that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them.” (Ruth 1:6) Therefore, she decided to return to Bethlehem. She told her two daughter-in-laws to return to their mother’s home. One of the daughter-in-laws, Ruth, said, “Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16) and refused to listen to Naomi. So Ruth went with Naomi to Bethlehem. However, Naomi who couldn’t see her future said to the women of town, “Don’t call me Naomi…Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.” (Ruth 1:20)

What was the problem? Certainly “Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.” (Ruth 1:5) She was insecure. However, the biggest problem was that in such realities, she couldn’t see God.
From the very beginning leaving Bethlehem itself was the problem. That is because to leave the promise land of Israel means to leave the faith. Ruth 1:1 says, “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.” “In the days when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1) was a time in Israel’s history that was full of apostasy, moral degradation, and oppression. In Israel’s history it was the time when faith was the coldest. In the midst of this she was not able to see God. She wasn’t able to see that God is controlling all of history and that God is leading according to His purposes. That was the problem.
However, the merciful God brought a turning point into her life. That was Boaz. Her daughter-in-law, Ruth went to glean in the fields of Boaz’s was the start. Boaz redeemed Ruth and married her. As a result, from his lineage David who was said to have been the greatest king in the Old Testament was born. Also from his descendants came the King of the entire world, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who could have thought that would happen! That was just what God had planned. This was God’s plan to carry out the fulfillment of His own purposes.
God also has a plan for your life and is leading you. You may not know what the purpose is, but it is certain that in the back ground God is there and is leading according to His perfect plan. You must believe this. Then the Lord will move your heart and you will be used for the glory of God.

II. The all sovereign God (Vs. 4-8)
Next let’s look at verses 4 to 8. I will read to verse 6. “For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.”
The thing that we should be surprised about the salvation of Israel by Cyrus is that even though Cyrus did not acknowledge the Lord, the Lord bestowed on him “a title of honor”. (4) This “title of honor” (4) is “his anointed” (2) that we looked at earlier. The reason why the Lord bestowed on him “a title of honor” (4) is recorded in verse 6. “So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.” If you look at the book of Daniel, you will see that Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar was also the same. When Babylon was destroyed by the Medo-Persian Empire, the King of Babylon was Belshazzar, and his father was King Nebuchadnezzar. He too worshipped the Babylonian God Baal. However, through David he knew that Israel’s God is the real God. Then he “praised the Most High…honored and glorified him who lives forever.” (Daniel 4:34) I don’t know if he believed in the God of Israel or not. However, that the king of Babylon, which was the leading world power at that time, would know that the God of Israel was the real God and would acknowledge that is really surprising. Like this the God of Israel makes it known throughout the entire world, “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” (6) In the same way, the Persian King Cyrus who ruled the entire world, by setting Israel free from Babylon, showed the entire world that the God of Israel is the real God.
Please look at verse 7. Here it says, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.” Here God says that He forms the light and creates the darkness. God says that He brings prosperity and creates disasters.
In the background of these words is the influence of the Persian religion, Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism believed in dualism. The universe is light and dark, good and evil, spiritual and natural. Zoroastrianism keeps two attributes separate as two different concepts. The world was created in dualism. According to the Zoroastrian story of creation, Ahura Mazda, the Zoroastrian god, existed in light in goodness above, while Angra Mainyu existed in darkness and ignorance below. They have existed independently of each other for all time, and manifest contrary substances. Ahura Mazda created things with good attributes. Ahura Mazda created things with bad attributes. The same thing cannot be both good and bad. However, that is not so. Both light and darkness, both good and evil, both the spiritual and natural were created by God. God brings “prosperity and creates disaster.” (7) All these things were made by God. God is “the LORD, and there is no other.” (5)
However, God does not create all disasters. Many disasters are allowed by God or are the result of our sin. For example, Job was struck by Satan, lost his family, and lost his health. His possessions were also lost. However, God allowed that. One time Satan came to God and said, “Stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 2:5)　Then the Lord said, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” (Job 2:6) God allowed Satan to strike Job. Satan couldn’t strike Job on his own. Because God allowed it, Satan was able to strike Job.
Things like this occur in our life. There are times when we meet situations when he ask, “Why, Lord!” For example, when we get sick, have a huge accident, lose our job, someone dies, etc. However, what we have to remember is that behind all events in the background God is there. Even those things God allows. God controls all things. He is sovereign. We must remember this and then pray for healing and recovery. We desire that “if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” (Luke 22:42) We desire to be healed of our sickness and to have peace. However, such sickness too are also used as a part of God’s plan. God formed the light and created darkness, God brings prosperity and creates disaster. God controls everything. In prosperity and in adversity everything is given for God’s purpose. We need to accept it as God’s sovereign treatment and pray like Jesus, “Yet not as I will but as you will.” (Luke 22:42) We should believe that God’s will is the best and pray seeking for God’s glory to be shown.
Please look at verse 8. “You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.”
Here describes God’s righteousness and salvation raining down upon the entire world. Here it says, “I, the LORD, have created it.” (8) This righteousness and salvation is not brought by our actions. The Lord has created it. It is brought about by God. The Lord saves us terrible sinners. Salvation is from the Lord. It is brought about by the one-sided grace of the Lord. It is the same as when Israel was save from Babylon. Israel could definitely not have been saved from Babylon by their own wisdom or strength. It was only by God’s one sided mercy, by His absolute power. By using the unbeliever, King Cyrus, by a surprising method it was brought about. That was so that they would definitely not be saved by their own strength. They were saved completely independently of their actions. It was by the work of God’s one sided mercy. Salvation is of the Lord. The Lord has created it. God is sovereign and controls everything. What is necessary for us is to recognize the Lord’s sovereignty, and leave all in the Lord’s hands.

III. “Leaving it to the will of God”
Lastly, let’s look at verses 9 to 13. When this was said, there were some people who complained about how God does things. They didn’t want to recognize God’s authority. They raised an objection to what God did. Please look at verses 9 and 10. “Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker,
to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
‘What are you making?’
Does your work say,
‘He has no hands?’
Woe to him who says to his father,
‘What have you begotten?’
or to his mother,
‘What have you brought to birth?’
These words are quoted in Romans 9. In Romans 9 it is written why the Lord chose Jacob instead of Esau. God chose him “before the twins were born of had done anything good or bad” (Romans 9:11) so that his election would not be by works, desires, or effort but by the mercy of God. However, when Paul spoke about this doctrine of election, there was an opinion that God is unjust to elect on the basis of his sovereign freedom. Paul used this Isaiah passage towards the people who had such an opinion saying, “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (Romans 9:20,21)
For the Jews, there were some people who weren’t satisfied that they were saved by Cyrus. They must have wondered why they had to be saved by a person who didn’t even believe in God. If we are in a situation where a person who isn’t a Christian is deeply involved in Christian ministry, we might have the same feelings. However, God does not just use Christians, but also uses non-Christians. God controls everything so he freely moves us according to his own purposes. We must not oppose God with things like “why?”
That is just like a man talking back to God. The Lord is the potter. We are nothing more than the clay. As the potter kneads the clay, we don’t yell out, “What are you doing?” We just let the potter work freely. It is strange for us to say anything. The potter spins it around because he thinks it’s necessary. It is strange for the pottery to complain about what the potter is doing. Israel is just the clay. We are nothing more than the dust of the earth that has been made into the likeness of God. When the clay is shaped by the poster then it has value. If not it’s nothing more than a lump of clay. God doesn’t love us because we have value. God love us one way so we have value. We must remember that we are nothing more than a lump of clay. For the clay to say “Why are you kneading me?” or “What are you doing?” is strange. However, we often do such things. “I won’t allow what’s happening in my life to happen!” “God why are you doing that?” We quickly complain. However, God is your potter. You should think that God is going to do what’s best for you. Before you complain, you need to think about what God did for you. God gave his life for you on the cross. His hands were pierced by nails and his side was pierced by a sword. Don’t forget that the potter’s hands that kneads you have the marks of the nails. The Lord who loves you will definitely not do anything but what is the best for you. You must believe this and pray, “Yet not as I will but as you will.” (Luke 22:42)
Paul said, “God…set me apart from birth and called me by grace.” (Gal. 1:15) Paul in the past persecuted Christians and did terrible things. He was also involved in the killing of Stephen. I don’t know why Paul was chosen, but it wasn’t because of his abilities. That is because no knows if a person has abilities or not before birth. However, God chose him before his birth. No one knows why he was chosen. Only God knows. God knows everything and he called him as an apostle. That was not to show his greatness but by God using such a stupid person God’s name is praised.
We are the same. I don’t know why God saved you or saved me. However God chose you in Christ to be saved before you were born, before the foundations of the earth. That is so the God’s name will be praised through you.
We are really “Donkeys” (stupid). However at the climax of Jesus’ life he used a donkey, not a horse. The disciples said, “The Lord needs it.” (Luke 19:34) and brought the donkey to Jesus and put Jesus on it. Let’s respond to the calling of God. Let’s put all in the hands of God who controls all and respond by praying, “Yet not as I will but as you will.” (Luke 22:42) When we do that even a small donkey will be used for God’s glory.