Topic: A Promise Fulfilled

The book of Ezra begins with the end of the exile. The kingdom of Babylon fell to the Persians and with the dawn of the Persians empire, the subjects were asked to return to their respective homelands. The first wave of returnees took place in 538 B.C. and that’s where the book begins.

Ezra, the priest and author of the book, was not in the first wave. He would only appear in chapter 7 with the second wave of returnees. The book of Ezra begins with the first wave of Jews returning to IsraeThe moment power was transferred to a new kingdom (from the Babylonians to the Persians), God moved to fulfill His will. It was in the first year of King Cyrus’ reign that God acted to fulfill His promise. After 70 years, the Jewish nation was restored and the people renewed again to worship God in the land that God gave them. Therefore, the very first line says in fulfillment of God’s word to Jeremiah, “the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus King of Persia” (Ezra 1:1) to release His people. Other versions put it, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus.

It didn’t come from the Jewish people demonstrating a faithful attitude. It didn’t come from Cyrus. The Persian kings might have their reasons for doing so, but the truth is, it wasn’t a Persian thing. It was a God thing.

God initiated it. He decreed it. It was according to His Word spoken through Jeremiah. We can read it in Jeremiah chapters 29-33.

Don’t lose sight of God’s providence in your life. He is sovereignly in control always, at all times, under any circumstances. If God has not promised restoration, no amount of human effort can make it happen. If God has promised, then no amount of human obstacles and oppositions (which we are going to see in the book of Ezra) can stop God’s will from being fulfilled.

See you Sunday!

Dr. Scott Kallem