Israel was being punished by God for turning to and worshiping idols, God said He was going to put them into captivity for 70 years under Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. “…shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” (Jer. 25:11) At the end of 70 years God sent the Meads “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them…” (Isaiah 13:17) God used the King of the Meads & Persians, Cyrus to set Israel free, “Thus says CYRUS king of Persia…the LORD GOD OF HEAVEN HAS COMMANDED ME TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE at Jerusalem which is in Judah…” (2 Chron. 36:23)
King Astyages had a dream one night that his grandson (Cyrus) would overthrow him. So, he ordered his steward, Harpagus, to kill the child. He couldn’t do it, so he traded the child to a herdsman whose son had died, they named him Cyrus and raised him as a shepherd boy. When Cyrus was 10 the King heard he was alive and brought him back, God did all that to have a man who would trust him. This was their FIRST RETURN.
It’s just like what happened to modern Israel, “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I BRING BACK (for the SECOND RETURN) the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of MY PEOPLE, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up MY LAND.” (Joel 3:1-2) Roosevelt, was president and he talked Truman into being vice president. Roosevelt WAS AGAINST Israel becoming a Nation, at just the right time he died, Truman, who for Israel, became president and strongly approved, May 14th, 1948, Israel became a Nation. A leading Rabi came to the White House and told Truman that he was BORN for this time, Truman shed tears upon hearing this.
We place OUR PROBLEMS in your hands… “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your GREAT POWER and outstretched arm. There is NOTHING TOO HARD FOR YOU.” (Jeremiah 32:17)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham