It was 70 years ago, in 1956, that Jim Elliot and four fellow missionaries were speared to death in Ecuador while attempting to contact and evangelize the Waorani tribe. Their story, featured in Life magazine, inspired countless individuals to dedicate their lives to missionary service. And it continues to inspire others seven decades later.
Seventy years is also how long God’s people toiled in Babylonian captivity. The Hebrew people might have been tempted to think God had abandoned them forever, but the book of Ezra opens with these words: “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia” (Ezra 1:1).
Here was the most powerful ruler in the world, and God reached down to move his heart. The people had waited for God to move for 70 years. Why now? God was fulfilling His promise through Jeremiah (Jer. 25:11–13) that He would rescue His beloved people out of captivity and return them to the land He had promised them (Gen. 15:12–19). The people’s sins were great, that’s certain. And 70 years no doubt felt like a long time. But this first verse in Ezra reminds us of the great truth of the gospel: God’s promises are certain and His mercy is greater than our sin.
Though God had disciplined His people for their sin, and though He disciplines His children today, He never once—and never will—abandon those He loves. As the writer of Hebrews says, “strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees” (Heb. 12:12), and we can, because we know the One who has redeemed us. God is trustworthy, and His promises sure. Even the king’s heart is a “stream of water” in the Lord’s hands.
Go Deeper
Have you experienced a long period of waiting on God? How does today’s passage reassure you that God’s delay does not mean He will not act?
Pray with Us
Lord, we thank You for keeping Your promises and showing us such great mercy. We praise You for redeeming us. There is none like You.
In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.Proverbs 21:1
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