The prophet Isaiah wrote a prophecy concerning one whom God called “His anointed”. (Is. 44:28-45:25) A man who God would take by the right hand. This man would subdue nations, rebuild God’s temple and shepherd the Lord’s people. Who was this man? No other than Cyrus the great. A mighty king of Persia who didn’t know God, and who followed his own rules. And yet roughly 150 years later, this unbelieving king became an instrument of God, proving that not only does God keep His promises, He can use anyone to do so.

Because of their sins of idolatry and rebellion, God allowed the Jewish people to become captives and taken to Babylon. But in Jeremiah 29:10 God promised, “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place’.” To fulfill this good word, God used Cyrus. “The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom.” (Ezra 1:1) This proclamation allowed the exiled Jews to be freed; to return to their holy land and rebuild the temple. Cyrus even restored the temple treasures to Jerusalem and allowed building expenses to be paid from the royal treasury (Ezra 1:4-11);(Ezra 6:4-5). And all of this happened at God’s hand. He rules all; even the actions of a pagan king. For as proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is like the channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Throughout Scripture we find God using believers, nonbelievers, and even His enemies to accomplish His will. He is the Sovereign Creator of the universe. And because of this no matter what; not our past, not our shortcomings, not even the condition of our hearts prevents Him from using us for His purpose. Think about the story of Pharaoh in Exodus. We know that God used Moses powerfully to save His people, but He also used Pharaoh to bring about His desired results. Just like Paul says in Romans 9:17, “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the entire earth’.” 

God’s not looking for perfect people to accomplish His goals. In fact, He doesn’t need our help at all. Instead He gives us the privilege of being used by Him. Whether we are given a small purpose like volunteering at church, or being a friend to someone in need, or given a large purpose like leading His people or rebuilding His temple, being used by God is a wonderful thing! I love how Pastor Rick Warren puts it, “Remember the basics. You were planned for God’s pleasure, formed for God’s family, created to become like Christ, shaped for service, and made for a mission! These are the purposes for which God made you!”

The next time you feel unusable by God, reflect on 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 which says, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty,  or many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.” The Lord loves to use the weak, the simple, the unexpected, and the flawed. There’s a saying that goes, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” No matter who you are or how imperfect you feel, when it comes to accomplishing His will the Lord can and will use anyone or anything. And no matter our circumstances, that includes you and me!

“Think about the people in your own life, believers and nonbelievers. How is God using them to work in your life? Take time to thank Him that He is not bound by our preconceived ideas about who is ‘worthy’ or not to do His bidding”....iworship Bible

The Plagues Against Egypt:

As we read about the plagues, we see that Pharaoh  would want relief from "the circumstance". As the plagues get more intense and difficult to bear, he would come closer and closer to agreeing to let the Israelites go.  As soon as the hardship ended, however, he would change his mind and his heart would be hardened again. This is typical of the human heart.  When circumstances are difficult,  the heart wants relief. This is a time when many will make promises to God that they wouldn’t normally consider.  I imagine God receives many prayers from the burdened heart that is seeking immediate relief,  prayers like “ God , if you will just fix this situation, then I will promise to do what you want me too. “. That insincere, self - seeking heart, however, defaults on those promises as soon as the crisis is over and circumstances ease. God is not fooled, however.  He knows the motives of our prayers and the deepest intentions of our hearts. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

The Passover:

The Passover has been celebrated by Jews for thousands of years. It is significant to them because it reminds them of God’s miraculous deliverance from the bondage of Egyptian slavery and it gives them hope and optimism for the future when the Promised Messiah will come.  They celebrate and remember with a meal called the seder.  Elements of this meal have special significance— matzah as the bread of affliction, salt water as the tears of oppression, bitter herbs as the harshness of slavery.  They eat unleavened bread for the leaven symbolizes “sin”. The unleavened bread also represents readiness for the Jewish people had to prepare their clothing and food in haste and be ready to travel quickly. 

For Christians, the Passover holds even more reason for remembrance and celebration because the sacrificial lamb of the Passover foreshadowed the coming of Jesus as the Promised Messiah.  In 1 Corinthians 5:7 Jesus is called the Passover Lamb and Christians are reminded to celebrate with a humbled, sincere heart.  “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

The prophet John the Baptist recognized Jesus as “the Lamb of God”.  “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 

Peter makes reference to Christ as the “ lamb without defect”. “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19 ). Jesus is qualified to be called One “without blemish” because His life was completely free from sin “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). In Revelation, John the apostle sees Jesus as “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain.” (5:6).  Interestingly, we read in Mark chapter 12 that the time of the crucifixion of Jesus was during the time that the Passover was observed. 

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior then you have symbolically applied the sacrificial blood of Christ to your heart and have escaped eternal death. Just as the Passover lamb’s applied blood caused the “destroyer” to pass over each household, Christ’s applied blood causes God’s judgment to pass over sinners and gives life to believers. Have you been covered by the precious, holy blood of Jesus?  Does it mark the doorway of your heart?  Will he find you ready for his return so that he can take you to heaven, the promised land he has prepared for you?

How does your worship compare on days when you feel God’s blessing as compared with other times when you don’t? The nation of Israel had been crying out to God for deliverance from the Egyptians and God heard their cries and was preparing for an amazing rescue; intending to use Moses to help Him carry it out! Only, after Moses appears, their troubles grow worse! And the people themselves are now blaming Moses for their increased hardship, and have decided to reject his leadership.

Moses, consequentially accuses God of unfaithfulness and of doing evil to his own people. Pretty amazing, don’t you think? But the Lord simply reasserts His plan to use Moses, to cause Pharaoh to allow Israel to leave Egypt here in Genesis 6:2-9,

Has this ever happened to you? You’ve trusted The Lord and taken a huge step of faith only to find yourself much worse off than before? Do you still worship Him, still trust Him then, or have you’ve been tempted at times to give up on God; give up on this life of faith and go back to trusting in yourself to work it all out?

"Man’s extremity," according to Matthew Henry, "is God’s opportunity of helping and saving. Now that the affair has come to a crisis, and things are as bad as they can be, Pharaoh is at the height of his pride, and Israel is at the depth of her misery, now is God’s time to appear." And that is precisely what God did. Only, He begins his course of action by continuing a conversation with Moses, and the words He speaks are precious! Not only to Moses, or to Israel, but to us!

Think about this a moment; The Lord never promised to spare us from any hardships, BUT He did promise to never leave us, nor forsake us! (Duet 31:6; Heb 13:5)

I’ve never preferred to face trials of any kind. If I’m honest, I’d have to admit, I’ve actually preferred to avoid them to the very best of my ability, but when they have come, I’ve found myself admitting, I wouldn’t trade this time with my Savior for anything, for it’s during these times that I grow more deeply in love with Him.

The verses that have become so precious to me during these times are found in Psalm 46,

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea... 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns...The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.