The Well

HE CAN USE YOU!

This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never again to shut against him. This is what the LORD says: "I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness–secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.
"And why have I called you for this work? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. I called you by name when you did not know me. I am the LORD; there is no other God. I have prepared you, even though you do not know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things. Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the LORD, created them."
Isaiah 45:1-8

King Cyrus was the king of Persia at the time these words were given to Isaiah. They were to be delivered straight to this king, who had no clue that God knew him, or even that there was only one God! Yet, God chose this warrior king to be the one who would bring Babylon to destruction and free God's people from captivity.

A marvelous historical fact of Biblical paradox is the way God calls unusual people to perform unusual and mighty acts. I am truly amazed time and time again as I read His Word and how He worked then and even more amazed at how He works now. Based on my study of the Word, God never uses a prescribed formula that we can follow to do His mighty deeds. He works in each life personally and miraculously.

Think of Mary, a simple virgin who was chosen to carry the embodiment of God in human form; and how the little baby she gave birth to, who nursed at her breast, would one day heal the sick, and mend broken hearts. He would one day die for the sins of people who would never acknowledge Him or accept His payment in their lives.

God continues to move in mysterious ways among His people. He continues to choose unusual people (He chose me). At the moment of salvation God impregnates us with the Holy Spirit; the hidden treasure of hope. As we mature in Christ, the Holy Spirit is given more access to our lives and helps us crucify the flesh and the hunger for the ways of the world. We become more and more unusual; we become people who love our enemies and bless those who curse us. We become people who offer a hand to hurting people and look beyond our pain to His purpose for our lives.