TIME OUT FROM CAPTIVITY

FAITH CAPSULE: “when the time of God is at hand; His hand will bring forth deliverance through any of the creation of His hand.”

Ezra 1

“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, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…” (Ezra 1:1) When the heart is stirred, the ear will hear and obeying God will reign in the life of him whose heart is stirred. Someone’s heart has the need to be stirred for your captivity to come to an end. The heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, who was not a worshipper of the God of children of Israel, became a vessel that God used when it was time for their captivity to end. God is awesomely gracious and what He wants to do is always a done deal. When God opens a door, no man can shut it. This was the case for the children of Israel in captivity. Cyrus, the king of Persia, after a stirred heart made a proclamation, “Thus says Cyrus the King of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. 3 Who is among you of all His people? May 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 God), which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’” (Ezra 1:2-4) Who else can deliver like God? When He defends, He will deliver and when He passes, He will preserve. Without any announcement or prior notice, captivity ended when God stirred the heart of a non-believer. It does not matter how long you have been grounded because when the time of God is at hand; His hand will bring forth deliverance through any of the creation of His hand. Cyrus, the king of Persia, did not just make a way out for the children of Israel; he also made provision for their need and restored back what was taken away by Nebuchadnezzar. Indeed, when the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, they were like those who dream. (Psalm 126:1) God will bring to your way one that represents Cyrus, king of Persia, and you will return and be restored. Through Cyrus, God was accomplishing His own will when He graciously delivered His people. Are you His people? God is never too late to deliver and He is also a God of the eleventh hour.

Prayer for today: Ask Him to bring back your captivity as the streams in the south.