How Sunrise and Sunset Reveal the Omnipotent and Omniscient God

Daily Devotional – Thursday, October 6, 2022
That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:6 (NKJV)

I find it therapeutic to watch the sun when it is rising or setting. The mesmerizing sunrise gives me hope for a productive day. Sunset, with its breathtaking aura reminds me to rest and try again tomorrow.

There is no God Besides Me

Yet there is another important reason why sunset and sunrise are not just mundane and repetitive events. Prophet Isaiah says, “I am the LORD, and there is no other. There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me.” (Isaiah 45:5).

God is addressing Cyrus, a Persian king who will appear many years later and issue a decree for Israelites to return from exile in Babylonia, to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. God wants Cyrus, a polytheist, to know there is only One Almighty God.

From the Rising of the Sun to its Setting

Though Cyrus does not know God because He is a gentile, the Almighty will use this king for the sake of Israel. God wants to teach Israel this lesson: “That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:6).

Ironically, by using Cyrus to bless the Israelites, God wants to teach them the same lesson – that He alone is God. The Lord wants His existence and sovereignty to be as ubiquitous and as enduring as the sunrise and the sunset.

How Sunrise and Sunset Reveal the Omnipotent and Omniscient God

Even when God allows the Israelites to go into exile because of their sins, they are not to question His authority and omnipotence. He is God and He is in control of everything, including their predicament. In addition, He can use means beyond their imagination (for example Cyrus) to save them and change their lives.

Just like the sunrise and sunshine occur every day without fail, so is God’s faithfulness. The sun’s cycle reminds us that the One true God has our lives and cares in His hands. Every time you see the sunrise and the sunset, remember there is only One true God and He is on the throne.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, every time I see sunrise and sunset, remind me that You are in control despite any negative circumstances I am facing.