Bible In 90 Days – Day 34
Reading: 2 Chronicles 35:16 – Ezra 10:44
Take Away(s):
- God Uses All to Accomplish His Purposes. It’s interesting to see how God uses Cyrus for his glory and return of Israel from Exile. Wikipedia says, “Cyrus initiated a general policy that can be described as a policy of permitting religious freedom throughout his vast empire. He brought peace to the Babylonians and is said to have kept his army away from the temples and restored the statues of the Babylonian gods to their sanctuaries. Another example of his religious policies,…was his treatment of the Jews during their exile in Babylon…with the decree…which returned the exiles to the Promised Land from Babylon along with a commission to rebuild the temple.” Sometimes we mistakenly expect that God can only use people who acknowledge Him, but forget that He is GOD…and can use all (for He created all) for his purposes. God moved Cyrus’ heart, so he didn’t speak to Cyrus or even use an Israeli or Judaen prophet – God powerfully and profoundly moved Cyrus’ heart.
- A picture of Confession. Neh 10:1. I know I am guilty of an attitude of confession that probably leaves a lot to be desired in sincerity. Reading about Ezra’s confession makes me humble – if sin is sin in God’s eyes (which it is, even though I categorize it wrongly), my “smallest” sin (in my eyes, not God’s) should result in an attitude just like Ezra’s. forgive me oh Great God…
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