Isaiah 45 - 10.1.25

Scripture

…to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. (Isaiah 45:1, 2)

Observation

This is a prophecy about King Cyrus (Cyrus the Great) of Persia. This gentile king was prophesied by name about 150 years before his time! God used Cyrus to end the 70-year exile of the Israelites in Babylon. Cyrus set the Israelites free, and allowed them to return to their homeland. Imagine the economic setback the country would have faced, by setting free their entire labor force - the whole nation of Israel. Cyrus was mightily used by God to accomplish His purposes. 

Because the Bible is God’s living word, these promises apply to you and me as much as it applied to Cyrus thousands of years ago. 

When the Lord calls us, He goes before us to open the door before us so that the gates will not be shut (Is 45:1). Wherever He leads us, He will not leave us orphans (John 14:18). He goes before us, levels the mountains and breaks the gates of bronze and the bars of iron (Is 45:2). We can trust the Lord who brought us so far to complete the work He has started in us (Phil 1:6). This applies to whatever calling the Lord has placed on our life. 

Application

All of us are called to be the children of God and as disciples of Jesus we are called to do the great commission. Apart from that, each one of us are also called into a specific vocation or profession. Not all of us are called to full time ministry. Most of us are called into the marketplace, to work and provide for our families and sow into the kingdom of God. This promise of God applies to whatever situation we are facing in our everyday life. The Lord cares for us in all our struggles, he watches out for us, goes before us, opens doors for us and levels the mountains for us.

Open Doors: We can trust God to go before us and open doors for us, and keep them open so that the gates are not shut. (Is 45:1). Our Lord holds the keys of David, and what He opens nobody can shut and what He shuts nobody can open (Rev 3:7). 

The Lord who goes before us: He has promised to go before us (Is 45:2). Not only has He promised to go before us, the God of Israel will be our rear-guard (Is 52:12). What a wonderful promise to rest in! He has hedged us from behind and before, and He has laid His hand upon us (Ps 139:5).

Mountains, Gates of Bronze and Bars of Iron: The situations we face might look like huge mountains. We might be facing strong gates made of bronze and bars made of iron. He has promised to level the mountains, break down the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron (Ps 107:16). Thank God that we can trust Him.

Prayer

Father, I thank you for loving me. Knowing you is the best gift I have received. You are the most precious possession that I have. You are my exceedingly great reward (Gen 15:1, KJV). Thank you for hedging me from behind and before, and for placing your hand upon me (Ps 139:5). Thank you for engraving me in the palm of your hand (Is 49:16). Thank you for your everlasting arms underneath me (Deut 33:27). Lord, I thank you because you have gone ahead of me, and opened the doors that need to be opened. Thank you Lord, because You have made the great mountain a level ground before me (Zech 4:7). You have broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron, and delivered me. I thank you. I know I can trust you to complete the work you have started in my life (Phil 1:6). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George