Cyrus Gives Permission for Israel to Return to Canaan

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. Ezra 1:1-8

Steps: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12

Now that we have had the opportunity of seeing the overview and victory of the Great Controversy as seen in Daniel we must get back to the historical step by step process that God has brought His people through. In Ezra 1 we have the record that Cyrus allowed God’s people to return to the land of Canaan and restore the temple and the city. Cyrus allowed Israel to go because he chose to believe in the prophecies of Isaiah 44:27-45:13 where God calls Cyrus by name and gives him instructions to let His people return. Cyrus had seen what happened to Daniel in the lion’s den and he had a sense of the power of God. He had also heard of what had happened to King Nebuchadnezzar, and the experiences of the Golden Idol and the burning fiery furnace. He had seen his name in Scripture and he believed in God sufficiently to obey the call given specifically to him by the One and Only True God of heaven.

Prayer for Today: We think that if only our names were specifically written in the Bible we would be willing to obey You. Help us to accept by faith that our names are written on Your hands, Your head, Your feet, Your heart when You died for us on Calvary. Help us to recognize that Your call has gone out to each and every person and we can accept it or reject it as so many of our fathers have done. Help us to believe that You came specifically to save us and to help us to grow up into You. Thank You Lord for Your special care for us.