Isaiah 45 is a prophetic message from God to Cyrus, founder of the Persian Empire, written some 200 years before his birth. Centuries before the events would transpire, the Maestro of heaven planned to use an idolater, the ruler of a pagan nation, to free Israel from captivity.

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

Isaiah 45:2-3 KJV

Israel’s Dark History

The years Israel spent in captivity were trying for God’s people. They were forced to leave their homeland and serve wicked kings whose only concerns were power and fulfilling their passions. The stories of Esther, Nehemiah, Daniel and others reveal that one wrong move by a Hebrew could find him in prison, tossed into a pit of lions, hanging from gallows, or thrown in a fiery furnace. Yet through it all, God had a plan.

God told Cyrus that He would give him “treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places” to prove that He was in control. Cyrus might have been king of Persia, but in truth, he was nothing more than one instrument in the vast orchestra under God’s command. Later in the passage God says that He plans to use Cyrus, even though Cyrus was not a believer, for the good of His people to bring glory to His name.

Look Up

It can be easy to look at the wickedness around us and feel discouraged. Like Israel in their captivity, we too are in a foreign place. Heaven is our home. Our souls long for the New Jerusalem just as God’s people longed for the old. It looked hopeless, their chances at returning home. Thankfully, our God can use unbelievers to do His bidding just as easily as He can use His children.

If you are in a dark place right now remember, both the prisoner and the prince are in the hand of God. Our lives are fluid. God brings about trials both to keep us dependent on Him and to keep us humble. Regardless of our current situation, God’s ultimate plan is always for our good and His glory. We can rest in this truth.

Both the prisoner and the prince are in the hand of God. Click To Tweet

When Darkness Comes

A.W. Tozer said,

It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.

Over and over again, the Bible tells us of the deep struggles men and women have had to endure before God could use them in a mighty way. Our history books tell us the same. Abraham Lincoln. George Washington. Winston Churchill. Eleanor Roosevelt. These and many more have had to go through deep waters of pain and struggle in order to become great inspirations for others to follow. We will not be exceptions to God’s plan.

If we are to be greatly used by God, we must be molded into useful instruments. Click To Tweet

If are to be greatly used by God, we must be molded into useful instruments. This can be a painful process. But during these times of transformation, He will provide for us glimmers of hope. These “treasures of darkness” are God’s gifts to let us know He is with us and He is in control. He didn’t forget His people Israel, and He won’t forget us.

It’s been three months since my mother passed away. These months have been full of sadness and instability. But they have also been times of renewed friendships, answered prayer, and unexpected blessings. God has not forsaken me in my trial. He has given me treasures to cling to—lights in the darkness. He won’t forsake you either.

Your Current Reality

As I stated in my last post, “joy is a treasure hunt.” Take a step back from your circumstances for a moment. Look at your situation as if you were above and can see all the pieces like God can. You won’t be able to see the final destination, but you can find the treasures. What blessings have you overlooked that you should thank God for? What gifts has He provided? Look carefully.

I encourage you to read the rest of Isaiah 45:1-7. It’s a wonderful passage full of truths I could never cover in a single post. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

In the month of October, there will be short Bible Study posts similar to the one above on the first 31 chapters of Psalms. To receive email reminders of these and other new posts, please subscribe. As a thank you, you will receive a free ebook, The Wonder Woman’s Manifesto. 

Resource: Cyrus – All the Men of the Bible © 1988 Zondervan. All Rights Reserved