This Week’s Reflection: Our God and History
He looked at me over his glasses and said, “It’s always important to contemplate the role of God in human history” (I recall him offering Galatians 4:4 as a worthy illustration — you may want to look that up!).  Dr. Herman Larsen (1915-2003), a commanding presence, served as my freshman year advisor at Concordia in 1975. I was doing an oral book report (an intimidating experience) with him in his office for my European history class — a biography of Martin Luther, no less — when he interjected with his admonition concerning history. It was later that I learned that Dr. Larsen, the brilliant St. Olaf and Yale educated man, spent three years in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, a result of his service as a missionary in China. Clearly, this history professor and ordained pastor attributed his survival to God. I thought about him this week while reading Isaiah’s prophetic description of Cyrus.

The Ancient Middle East

Cyrus the Great (590-529 BCE), by all accounts, was a remarkable leader. He ruled over the Persian Empire, the largest at the time, that stretched from present day Iran into modern Turkey. The only non-Jewish person in the Bible referred to as “Messiah,” Cyrus appears 23 times in the scriptures (in Isaiah, Ezra, 2 Chronicles, and Daniel). A hero in Jewish history, this pagan ruler is credited with overtaking Babylon and liberating the Jews being held in captivity and assisting in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Further, he is often cited as a tolerant ruler, allowing those under his authority to live and worship as they pleased, while having at least some voice in their political lives.

In this week’s reading from Isaiah, the prophet foretells Cyrus’ coming more than a century prior to his birth. Despite not knowing God, Cyrus will be chosen and honored (45:4). Beyond the verses cited in the Lectionary, we hear these words: “I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his paths straight; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward, says the Lord of hosts” (45:13). Indeed, Cyrus is chronicled in Jewish history for his great deeds, notably in the book of Ezra, written in 400 BCE and aimed at Jewish descendants of those who were exiled. Note the language attributed to him in Ezra 1:2-4:   

² “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. ³ Let any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—go up to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; he is the God who is in Jerusalem. ⁴ And let all survivors in whatever place they reside be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods, and with livestock, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.”

Cyrus and Astyages by French painter
Jean-Charles Nicaise Perrin (1754–1831)

What lessons should we draw from the story of Cyrus? First, I’m drawn back to my professor’s assertion to me from nearly 50 years ago: we should contemplate God’s role in history. Our all-powerful Creator intervenes in ways that may seem evident but, in truth, are often incomprehensible to us. I was not raised within the traditions of those who frame our times within specific Biblical prophecies and always sense some overreach when we do that — there is so much we simply don’t know.  That said, the story of Cyrus reminds us that it is possible for our God to motivate those we may least expect — those outside the traditional faith — to accomplish His ends. Cyrus, it seems, was positioned well to carry out God’s will. 

And second, though our present situation seems fraught with danger and, at times, hopeless beyond measure, our God surrounds us with His love, a love that motivates us to be grace-filled people who are willing to walk into a dangerous world with courage and strength.     

Soli Deo Gloria