Eza 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: (ESV)
YHWH (Jehovah), the self existent covenant keeping God, in order to keep his word, which he had given through the prophet Jeremiah, stirred up the spirit of a pagan king. This verse answers a couple of key questions. Can God be trusted to keep his word? Yes. His promise through Jeremiah was about to be kept. Given Israel's circumstances how can God possibly keep his word? God is bigger than circumstances. He can even move the heart of a pagan king to accomplish his will and purpose.
Will God keep his word to us today? Yes. The God who kept his word to Israel is the same God we serve today. He never changes. He can be trusted. If he said it then you can bank on it. Sometimes we put words in God's mouth that he didn't actually say. We never want to be presumptuous concerning God. But he will always keep his word. Often he does not work in ways that we expect, or in the time frame we would prefer, but he will always keep his word. He can be trusted.
But, how can he possibly keep his word given our circumstances? When God's time frame is not ours we begin to doubt. When God chooses to work in ways we cannot see or understand we begin to doubt. 2 Peter 3 tells us that people will look at their circumstances and ask, "Where is the promise of his coming?" Our circumstances, what we can see and feel, are often more real to us than the God of our circumstances. We need to learn to look past the circumstances in which we live to the eternal, sovereign God who always keep a his word. The God who stirred the heart of a pagan king to return and rebuild his temple will always keep his word. He can be trusted.
Father, forgive me for my myopic unbelief. Give me eyes to see your hand at work, and a heart to trust you even when I cannot see you clearly.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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