# God's work through King Cyrus
*2015-03-12*

> A reflection on 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 and how God can use anyone, regardless of their faith, to accomplish His divine plans.

## The Proclamation of Cyrus

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus. He sent a herald throughout all the kingdom and declared a written edict: 'Thus says the king of Cyrus of Persia: The Lord God in heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever among you of all His people—may the Lord his God be with him—let him go.'

## An Unexpected Instrument

For thirty years, Cyrus the Great ruled a vast empire that reached from India to Israel and Syria. He was known for respecting human rights. Today we hear how God stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus, leading him to a great, humane act by releasing the Jews from captivity and allowing them to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. The order to rebuild the temple was left in writing, and the Jews remained thankful to him and his son, Darius, to this day.

## God's Cosmic Stage

Cyrus was not a Jew, yet God worked through him to accomplish His plans, specifically the plan announced earlier by the prophet Jeremiah. God can refresh the will of someone who has never known Him and make them an agent of reconciliation and repentance. Imagine the awe and comfort this brought to the people of Israel. God works on a cosmic stage far beyond what we see or understand, and all His works are for the good of all His beloved children.

*God can work through anyone, even those who do not know Him, to fulfill His divine purpose and bring about reconciliation.*