Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing… Ezra 1:1

By God’s decree, the Babylonians destroyed Judah for their unfaithfulness to God. The Babylonians were the rod of God’s judgment over Judah. The Babylonians were more sinful than Judah and their mistreatment of Judah earned the Babylonians God’s judgment—even though God was using them to judge Judah.

God’s judgment came to the Babylonians seventy years after they conquered Judah, just as it was prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah.

The Babylonians were sacked by the Medo-Persian Empire, precisely as Daniel had prophesied.

Like the Babylonians, the Persians were more sinful than Judah. But God can and does use even sinful people and nations for the accomplishment of His purposes.

150 years before it happened, Cyrus the godless Persian king, was named by God through the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 44:28; 45:1), as being the one God would use to send His people back to Judah (Jerusalem). Cyrus wasn’t even born yet!

The Point: God knows all from beginning to end, before anything ever happens!

The Application: You and I can completely trust God—with everything, every time, forever!