"I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." (Isaiah 45:3)
Who was God speaking to in that verse?
A) An Israelite king?
B) A mighty pagan emperor?
C) Jesus Christ?
D) A high priest?
If you guessed 'B', then you are right! God was speaking to Cyrus the Great of Persia, the man who created the largest empire that the known world had ever seen up to that point. What's really interesting is that this prophecy was made when Persia was dominated by another Aryan tribe known as the Medes and when the big kid on the block was Assyria. Persia's predecessor on the world stage, Babylon, had not even come to power yet. Nonetheless, God already had a plan for Cyrus, even though he wasn't even born yet. While I do not know every reason that God decided to make Cyrus the most powerful man of His time, I do know the greatest one: to free the Jews from Babylon and to allow them to return to their homeland in Israel.
I learned in a class taught by Professor Marc Saperstein that the Jews actually showed Cyrus the prophecy about him in Isaiah after he conquered their oppressors. Cyrus was so moved that he decided to carry it out. From that and other historical facts about Cyrus' wise and humanitarian rule (including allowing freedom of religion in his empire), it is clear that God had not only blessed him with great wisdom and strength, but a just and loving heart as well. Whether or not Cyrus took the final step by putting his faith in the one true God is not clear. However, one thing is: he used the blessings that he was given to fulfill his earthly purpose.
How are you using the blessings that God has given you? Have you asked Him why He has given you your skills and talents? Is there someone whom He wants you to help with your abilities? You may not be the most powerful ruler in the world, but God has given you a blessing and a purpose. Cyrus was brave enough to fulfill his. Be brave enough to fulfill yours.
