Isaiah 46:11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.
When I first read this verse I was confused. I had no idea what the prophet was talking about. A bird of prey? Huh? I had to dig in to a few commentaries to fully understand and will try to do those authors justice by reviewing it here today.
The time of this prophecy was during the Babylonian reign where the Israelites had been exiled. The prophecy speaks of a bird of prey, which is actually a metaphor, and refers to Cyrus the Great, the Persian ruler who conquered Babylon ending their rule. Cyrus the Great issued an Edict of Restoration which allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland and rebuild. He also supported the rebuilding of the Temple.
Having that short history lesson, let’s now look at the verse itself.
From the east God summoned the man who would deliver the Israelites from exile. The Lord had a purpose in mind and everything that happened accomplished His purpose. He called forth Cyrus the Great from the east, from a far off land, to the lands of Babylon where he conquered the oppressors and freed the exiles. Cyrus was the man to fulfill God’s purpose.
The concluding statement in this verse highlights the central idea – God has control over everything that happens, of all history, and He is a faithful God and will do what He says. There is no doubt God will follow through and Fulfill what He says He will do. And we see this prophecy fulfilled in Cyrus and his actions.
The message for us is this: God is sovereign over all (even those who are not His followers) and is faithful to fulfill His promises. God is in control. Trust Him to act on your behalf and in your best interest. His plan will be accomplished if you trust Him to work in your life.
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