When Known by Name

Scripture:
Thus says the Lord to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held...
I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
For Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
Isaiah 45:1a,3-4

Observation: I have heard the lesson on this section ... written about 100 years before Cyrus becomes king of Babylon. Cyrus was educated about this passage, discovering that the God of Israel knew him by name long before he even existed, and there were special circumstances even surrounding his name. He thus responded to this knowledge with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the Lord's temple.

There is a bit more to it, but the point is that Cyrus discovered that God loved him enough to raise him up and grant him kingship, and he responded by honoring God in the way that he could. The fact that God knew Cyrus by name, before Cyrus knew anything at all, had a powerful impact upon Cyrus, as it would have on anyone.

Application: Being called and known by name by the Lord is amazing. It is unfathomable that the most powerful being in the universe would simply 'know' me. Or that he would even care at all. Yes, he knows everyone, but he cares enough to reach out personally.

The other night, someone at my Alpha table discussed the idea of hearing God speak. He stated that he wasn't sure he could hear from God. This is a regular complaint of mine, that I don't feel I hear God speak. But I do know that I simply hear God in the manner he has chosen. I don't hear a voice speaking sentences, but I do hear guidance and direction. I (usually ... or at least sometimes) know when that guidance is God, as opposed to when it is just my thoughts working out a situation.

I yearn for more, but I delight in how the Lord interacts with me. I want to be even closer, but I see that God has a purpose in how he works in my life. Cyrus - king of the evil empire - responded when God called him by name. May I always as well.

Prayer: Lord, here I am today. I am yours to guide and direct. May I do as you tell me this day and every day. Thank you for your great love, and for knowing me by name. Amen.