THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S WAYS

Cyrus, an idolatrous Gentile leader who did not know God, vv. 4, 5, is chosen to deliver Israel from the Babylonish yoke. He is promised victory over other nations and a bounty of treasures. This he achieves, and acknowledges that his victories had been gained only through the power of the God of Israel. He is consequently charged by God to issue the decree for Israel to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem, Ezra 1. 2.

God is able to take up whoever He will, whether believer or unbeliever, in fulfilment of His sovereign purpose for His people. In verses 9-13, Jehovah justifies His deliverance through this means to His people Israel who had resentfully questioned His method! Who were they, indeed, to question the One who is the Sovereign Creator? Verse 14 looks on to the day when all the nations will have been subjected to Christ. Only then will everything be made clear to those who passed through the times of testing and trial.

Verse 15 tells of the God who hides. This prayer uttered by the prophet is one of praise at the way God is to deliver His people. His purposes and method of deliverance could not have been imagined by any man, for His ways are inscrutable.

Romans chapter 11 verses 33 and 34 is a commentary on this passage, ‘O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?’. ‘God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps on the sea, and rides upon the storm.’, W. COWPER.

His ways are always best, though maybe for a season hidden from His saints. Many reminders of this are found in the Gospel records where the disciples could not discern the Lord’s mind. He was the One who would accomplish a far greater deliverance for His people than Cyrus, but it was by way of His sufferings at Calvary.

Many times, we, as believers, face circumstances of difficulty that defy human explanation, but though His way is hidden, let our prayer be as the prophet’s here, ‘Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour’, v. 15.