“In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia…” (Ezra 1:1). We’ve seen this sort of thing before. On several occasions, according to the book of Exodus, God affected the heart of Pharaoh in his interaction with Moses and Aaron. Now God has stirred the spirit of the king of Persia in order that God’s will might be accomplished. God also appeared to the prophet Ezekiel by the River Chabar, far from Jerusalem (Ezekiel 1:1ff).
None of this should surprise us. This is the same God who brought the entire world into being and who gave life to all people. Just because God had covenanted with one particular nation did not mean that God had ceased to operate on a global-or universal-stage. Nor is God somehow barred from working though those who may or may not believe in such a God. If it is God’s will to harden the heart of an Egyptian ruler, God can do so. If God wishes to stir the spirit of the king of Persia, God can do so. There is no boundary on God, no invisible fence that God must acknowledge. God is free to act according to God’s will.
That’s good news, of course. Though we may not fully grasp what God is doing in our world today we know that God is at work touching lives, stirring spirits, maybe even hardening hearts if that is God’s will. In Jesus Christ God made a universal claim to all people calling each and every one of us into a restored relationship. The universe remains God’s theater of operations, and God is capable of transcending our expectations, of moving beyond any limits even we might try to impose.
Prayer: Lord, your concern for us knows no boundaries, no limitations, no end. Help us to live as your people and to accept your presence in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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