Tag Archives: Isaiah 45:1-7

I Know Your Name

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When I go to the hospital or another formal setting, they always call be by my full name, or Mrs Webster; those who know me well will call me Pam.  What somebody calls you is often a give away of how much they know you or the kind of relationship you have; whether someone knows you and your name, or are just reading it from a piece of paper.  Someone taking the trouble to know, and remember, your name is powerful and meaningful. I always feel much more predisposed to someone who has taken the trouble to do that.

God knows Cyrus‘ name, and uses it as he calls him.

Isaiah 45:1-7 (CEV)

Cyrus Obeys the Lord’s Commands

45 The Lord said to Cyrus, his chosen one:

I have taken hold
    of your right hand
to help you capture nations
    and remove kings from power.
City gates will open for you;
    not one will stay closed.
2 As I lead you,
    I will level mountains
and break the iron bars
    on bronze gates of cities.

3 I will give you treasures
hidden in dark
    and secret places.
Then you will know that I,
the Lord God of Israel,
    have called you by name.
4 Cyrus, you don’t even know me!
But I have called you by name
    and highly honored you
because of Israel,
    my chosen servant.

5 Only I am the Lord!
    There are no other gods.
I have made you strong,
    though you don’t know me.
6 Now everyone from east to west
will learn that I am the Lord.
    No other gods are real.
7 I create light and darkness,
happiness and sorrow.
    I, the Lord, do all of this.

Cyrus didn’t know God, but that didn’t stop God knowing him and calling to him. God is going to do great things, through Cyrus, for his people, but it all begins with God knowing him and calling him.

I believe this is not just for Cyrus.  It is for us all.  This is a personal God, who hasn’t just heard of us, but knows about us.  He knows our name, the one we call ourselves, and uses it.  God knows us, intimately; cares about us; loves us; and calls us.  He has something for each one of us to do.  Whoever we are, wherever we are coming from, God calls to each one of us, by our name, and leads us on to the task he has for us.

Our job may not, or may, be as big as rescuing a whole nation, but it is what God is asking of us.  As he calls us, he equips us for it, and leads us.

I am precious to God.  He knows me, calls me and leads me.

You are precious to him too, and he calls and leads you.

Thank you Lord,
that you have not just heard about me,
but know my name.
You know
what I am truly capable of,
and you have a task,
just for me,
that you call me to.

As I hear your call,
may I hear
and respond
to what you ask of me,
not in my strength,
but yours

Opening Doors

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I am still amazed that it is possible to get from Montpellier to Nottingham on the train in just 9 hours. This is mainly due to the ease of connections at Lille (45 minutes) and St Pancras (20 minutes – not a recommended transfer time, but we managed to make it!!)  What could be a difficult and long journey is made smoother for you by the ease of good interchanges, and efficient trains.

Cyrus has been anointed and appointed by God.

Cyrus II le Grand et les Hébreux Flavius Josèphe, Jean Fouquet

He is the one who allowed the Jews to return from captivity to Jerusalem.  Here he is also appointed by God to conquer nations.  God had a task for him and he was going to make it possible to happen.  God is going to open the doors before him to the place he wants him to go.

Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him… to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:    I will go before you and will level the mountains  Isaiah 45:1,2

God is going to make his passage easy. This is what God has called him for, and he smooths the way.

Why does God do that?  We know that the way through life is not always easy.  Sometimes there are mountains to climb, or we encounter locked gates.  But God promises this to Cyrus so that he will KNOW – he will know that he is the Lord, the one who has called him by name.  He promises to do this, even though Cyrus has not acknowledged him.  God has acknowledged Cyrus.  He knows him and uses him.  God doesn’t need to wait for Cyrus to acknowledge him – God is God and is already there working.

And more than that, God does what he does so that everyone will know:

so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other  Isaiah 45:6

That is what God longs for people to understand.  That there is none but him, whether we realise it or not, he is busy working.  He is smoothing things out where they need to be; he is unlocking gates that we need to go through – and leaving closed those that we don’t; he is calling us to work with him – can we hear him?

Do we acknowledge God?

Lord,

there is so much you do for me,

that I don’t often realise.

Gates you open;

mountains you smooth.

May I see you,

acknowledge you,

and follow the way you call me to