LESSON 3
• What are the instructions he gives?
• To whom are the instructions given?
3. Cyrus’s proclamation was an official Persian document. Why was it import- ant that this decree was put in writing?
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
PROVIDENCE OF GOD Divine providence is God’s wise and loving direction of all things to accom- plish His will. He is in complete control of the universe and all of history.
Wayne Grudem, in Systematic Theology, helps us understand the following:
• Preservation: God keeps all created things exiting and maintain- ing the properties with which he created them. • Concurrence: God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do. This includes creation, animals, seemingly “random” or “chance” events, the affairs of Nations, all aspects of our lives, and evil. 9 God can override human sin to bring about His purpose and to influence people to participate in His good plans. For example, God used King Nebuchadnezzar to judge and discipline His people (Jer. 25:1–12 and 29:10–11). Additionally, in Ezra 1:1, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to allow the Israelites to return to Jerusalem. He inspired this king’s decision for the good
9 Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994) 316–322.
Ezra 1:1–2:70 | 33
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