Articles
Turning Points in Bible History - 14
Perhaps there has been no more extreme policy shift in history than Cyrus’ reversal of Israel’s exile (2 Chr 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4). From a practical standpoint, destroying national unity by fragmenting and deporting its population was effective in preventing the conquered from regrouping and mounting a counter-offensive. One would only imagine that the new Persian monarch, Cyrus, would continue this policy.
But he did not. In fact, in his proclamation of liberty Cyrus says of God: “He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem … Who is there among you of all His people? … Now let him go up to Jerusalem … and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God) …” (Ezra 1:2-3). There is no Biblical reason to doubt this claim. God had expressed His will to other heathen kings: Pharaoh (via Moses), the Assyrian king (via Jonah), Nebuchadnezzar (via Daniel). There is no account of how God communicated His will to Cyrus, but Cyrus affirms it nonetheless. He had nothing to gain by fabricating the story.
Can you imagine the sheer joyful disbelief in which the Israelite dispersion would have received this news?! We can only liken it to the possibility of our own exile from America only to be allowed to return to our beloved homeland and rebuild our cities and reconnect with family and friends. And this occurred for the simple reason that God so willed it: “that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled” (Ezra 1:1). There is great comfort in God’s rule in the affairs of men.
