Israel had failed to observe the land’s one-year-in-seven sabbath for 490 years, so the term of the Babylonian captivity was set at 70 years to make up the deficit. 2 Chron. 36:21 says, “The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed…” in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah. “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND NOT OF EVIL, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I WILL LISTEN TO YOU. And you will SEEK ME AND FIND ME, when you search for Me WITH ALL YOUR HEART. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
So, how was Israel able to go back from Babylon? “Thus says the LORD TO HIS ANOINTED, TO CYRUS, whose right hand I have held…” (Isaiah 45:1) The grandfather of Cyrus, King Astyages of Persia, having had a dream that the baby would grow up to overthrow him, ordered Cyrus slain. His chief adviser, however, instead gave the baby to an ISRAELITE SHEPHERD, whose baby had just died, to raise. When he was 10 years old, Cyrus, because of his outstanding qualities, was discovered by Astyages, who, in spite of the dream, was persuaded to ALLOW THE BOY TO LIVE.
Cyrus, when he reached manhood, revolted against his grandfather, and became King. Because of his relationship with Israel he had a TENDER HEART TOWARD THEM. And SOMEONE READ (Isaiah 44:24-28) to Cyrus written 150 years before he became king, CALLING HIM BY NAME. Cyrus is famous for freeing the Jewish captives in Babylonia and allowing them to return to their homeland, with all their needs met by Cyrus. “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins’; WHO SAYS OF CYRUS, ‘He is my SHEPHERD, and he shall fulfill ALL MY PURPOSE’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” (Isaiah 44:24-28)
NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham