Text: Isaiah 45:2 “I will go before you…”
God made this promise to Cyrus, the powerful king of Persia, sometimes called “Cyrus the Great” who allowed the Jewish remnant to return to their homeland in Jerusalem. Go back to 44:28 and you will see God was very specific stating “Cyrus will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt” and of the temple “Let its foundations be laid.” This is impressive when we consider this promise was given through the prophet Isaiah over 170 years before Cyrus was king of Persia. Think about it; years before the Jewish people were carried into Babylonian captivity, God knew when they would be returned to their homeland, the name of the king who would order it, and the very words that would be spoken in the edict.
Here we are at the beginning of a new year and none of us know what lies ahead. Yet, for the child of God, we can rest assured God already knows and will be with us and lead us every step of the way.
Promise: “…this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.”