God Bless That Jerk

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Today, let's read Isaiah 45:1-7. For just a little intriguing background, you need to know that Cyrus was the King of Persia who would eventually subdue the Babylonian Empire (that conquered Israel) and free the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild. At the time of Isaiah's prophecy he had not even been born and wouldn't be for over a century, yet he is even called by name. Do you hear something here that you can apply to your life?

I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. . . . 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. (v. 4-6)

Sometimes I wonder why many people who have no use for God prosper so much. Here they are going their own sinful way and yet they live in the limelight. It's a nagging question that is partly answered here. God shows his goodness and blesses even unbelievers so that (1) they might one day pause and recognize the God who gave them all they have, and (2) so that he can use them to accomplish his plans and purposes, which involve funneling blessing down onto his faithful people in some way. God's graciousness is just plain scandalous. He lavishes blessing on the least deserving people. In the end, if they never acknowledge him, they will have a lot to answer for.

I will pray that God richly bless my unbelieving friends and neighbors so they might one day wake up and realize how good God has been to them and be saved.

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