Isaiah 45:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consider the multitude of blessings He bestows upon humanity. Reflect on the plagues that afflicted Pharaoh; do not perceive God as unjust. His desire was to free the people with ease, yet the Egyptians resisted. It is evident that God did not intend to bring about Pharaoh's downfall, as demonstrated by His earlier actions—He sent a messenger to the ruler of Egypt, commanding, “Let My people go, that they may do Me service in the wilderness” (Ex. 7:16). This directive was straightforward; why was it not accepted willingly? He did not demand that they worship in Egypt, where Pharaoh could have claimed, "It is impossible; our priests serve our needs, and introducing a new law is unlawful." Instead, He asked only for a brief respite of three days.

I will shatter the gates of bronze and dismantle the bars of iron, and I will bestow upon you treasures concealed in darkness: I will reveal to you the unseen. It is recorded that the Babylonians, after the fall of their city, sought refuge in shadowy caverns, particularly the more prominent among them, who, terrified of death, concealed themselves like serpents in every hollow and crevice of the rocks; yet they could not truly evade discovery. Cyrus learned of this through various accounts and commanded that torches be ignited, instructing that those in fear be brought forth from their dark refuges, facing harsh punishment. Some assert that he uncovered the hidden treasures of the Babylonians, buried beneath the earth.

I will illustrate to you the might of God as revealed in the Scriptures, demonstrating that the Lord has the ability to uplift the low places and cast aside the high mountains, just as He proclaimed: I will go before you and level the mountains (Is 45:2). Similarly, the force of water itself can carve out even the deepest parts of the ocean by unleashing a powerful and tumultuous flow, which continually brings forth a multitude of sand from the abyss to the shore.

Through all these actions, He made it clear that He had appointed Cyrus as ruler and granted him the power to oversee the kingdom, alleviating what appeared challenging to accomplish, as indicated by the words: I will level the mountains, I will break down the doors of brass (Isaiah 45:2).

The divinely inspired observers of God’s decrees inform us that the Almighty grants authority, prosperity, and honor to rulers and nations, not merely as a reward for righteousness, but also in the hope that they will fulfill His divine purpose, motivated by their gratitude for His blessings. This is exemplified in His calling of the ancient Cyrus, even before his birth, as conveyed through the Prophet Isaiah, when He declared: ‘I will go before thee, and I will level the mountains, I will break down the gates of brass, and I will break down the bars of iron’ (Isaiah 45:2). What does this remarkable grace signify? It serves as an indication of God’s expectations for Cyrus. He states, ‘All My will He will do’ (Isaiah 44:28). ‘I will appoint him in righteousness, and all his endeavors shall be just. He shall rebuild My city, and the exiles of My people shall return’ (Isaiah 45:13).