“Come together, all of you, and listen:
    Which of the idols has foretold these things?
The Lord’s chosen ally
    will carry out his purpose against Babylon;
    his arm will be against the Babylonians.
15 I, even I, have spoken;
    yes, I have called him.
I will bring him,
    and he will succeed in his mission.

This is a further reference to Cyrus. Israel may not have liked the idea of God using a pagan ruler, nor understood it. But the sovereign Lord who created the earth and heavens – and, we might add, they all ”stand up” at His call (12,13) – has the right to call and use anyone He chooses. Again, we see that God did what the idols could not: He ”foretold these things”.

Note the repetition of ”I” in verse 15. The key to the success of Cyrus’ mission would not be Cyrus but God, the Lord.

This is basis for success in any mission: God must call and equip you.