Isaiah 46:10 continues our exploration of the introduction of Yahweh to Cyrus. An effective apologetic tool for explaining why the Bible is reliable uses the acronym RAMP. R is for resurrection. The Resurrection is a key theme in the New Testament and, in fact, is the best attested event from that time in history.
A is for Archeology. Archeological research has confirmed and verified literally hundreds, and thousands of events and places. And not one archeological discovery has nullified or disputed any Biblical event, person, or place. M is for Miracles. Jesus did an untold number of miracles (John 21:25). He explained in Mark 2:10-12, that He did miracles to prove that He had authority to forgive sins. (Repeated in Matthew 9:6) He was healing the paralytic to prove that people should believe in Him.
Finally, P is for Prophesy. These prophesies are not vague comments or statements that can be interpreted as a "fulfilled prophesy" years later when we get the actual details. Nostradamus comes mind as an example. Modern day astrologers and psychics struggle to hit 50% accuracy when giving, "A big earthquake will hit soon," prognostications. They could not even hit the day the ice berg would break off the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica.
God's prophesies are occasionally obscure, not because He made them to be vague, but because we do not know enough to interpret them. But many are specific and detailed. The birth of Jesus is one. Micah specifically pinpointed Bethlehem as the place of the Messiah's birth. (Micah 5:2) Even the Jewish scholars of that time understood that, and used it to guide the wise men. (They failed to heed their own intel and accompany them to the manger.)
Further, Isaiah specifically identified the mother of the Messiah as a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14) (I was reading an "expert" the other day and he supercilliously referred to Matthew's interpretation of the virgin birth as an "understandable misinterpretation by an unskilled linguist." The word in Isaiah is correctly translated "young woman" and Matthew inserted his own ignorance into the interpretation and usage. Matthew 1:23 Click! That was my delete button. This clown has nothing to say that is worth my time.) (Ed note: If you have questions, there are TWO virgins and the context clearly means the second is a "virgin" as reflected in the NASB translation of Matthew.)
God specifically predicted that a virgin would have a child, because that was the only avenue through which the Redeemer could come. As a "son of Adam," to mimic C. S. Lewis, the Messiah would bear the imprint of Adam's sin. The "sacrifice," according to the Old Testament must be without blemish. None of Adam's race could qualify. But I digress.
Prophesy was one of the most compelling signs that Yahweh used to validate His Deity and superiority over all other so-called gods. Verse 9 concludes with:
I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me.
Cyrus is compelled to agree. Now for the coup de gras.
I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.
There can be no doubt that God has predicted events, such as Cyrus himself, and now He explains how He can "know" ahead of time. Yahweh has foreknowledge, because He has determined what would happen. If I throw a rock and hit a dog pack, one will "yip!" I can predict that. I do not make it happen, but I can predict it.
The Lord tells us here that He was pre-existent. "I declare the end from the beginning, from long ago what was not done." He was before the terminals of time. He had to preexist the beginning to know that nothing came before. But He did not use a period there, but a comma.
"I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will."
His "declaration" was that "His plan would take place, just as He willed it." This is declarative and demonstrates intent. "I will do all My will."
This is comforting to the believer and disconcerting, greatly disconcerting, to the skeptic. One last prophesy comes to mind, and that is the end of all things. For believers, this is the culmination of creation, anticipated by the God-head from the beginning. (Genesis 1:1) For unbelievers, the endpoint of time does not signal their annihilation. It initiates the endless forever of separation from the God Who gave all that He had to save them.
As Cyrus heard, this has been declared from the "beginning." I am convinced that he was wise enough to believe it. I would not be surprised if Daniel did not even point out the "virgin" just for interest and adoration.
The True God can, and does, predict the future. He is God and this is His credential. "...telling from long ago what is not yet done."
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