God Is Sovereign!

The story of Cyrus shows how God is sovereign—ruling over rulers, nations, and history to fulfill His divine purposes.

“I, the LORD, am the Maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth alone […] It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will carry out all My desire.’”—Isaiah 44:24–28 NASB

Cyrus is one of history’s larger-than-life figures—a mighty conqueror who also was known as a just and upright man.

He was born around 580 BC in what is modern Iran. Around 550 BC, Cyrus gained power and welded the Medes and Persians together into one kingdom. Then in 539 BC, he led his forces in a swift conquest of Babylon and established the mighty Persian Empire. Only nine years later, he died.

We learn much about Cyrus from ancient records, including a book written by Xenophon, who served as a mercenary in the Persian army. That book helped shape the life of Alexander the Great and others.

Yet the Bible tells us that it was God Himself who caused Cyrus’ remarkable success. Through prophecy, He called Cyrus and announced that he would perform “all My desire,” including rebuilding His Temple. God promised to “subdue nations before him … open doors before him … shatter the doors of bronze.” He would do this, even though “you have not known Me.” God acted for the sake of His people, so that the world would know, “There is no God except Me” (Isaiah 45:1–5).

Looking at the world, our thoughts are often dominated by political powers, business and economic forces, media empires, armies, and weapons. But the story of Cyrus reminds us that God is sovereign and in control. He has a plan for the world, for the nations, and for you.

Reflection Question: Where do you need to trust that God is sovereign in your life?