Isaiah 41:25
“I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God announces He has raised up a ruler from the north who will advance from the east, treading down all resistance with unstoppable power.
Context
This prophecy has an immediate historical reference to Cyrus of Persia, who conquered Babylon and released Israel from exile. But the imagery of irresistible advance and the calling on God's name give it a wider scope, pointing toward ultimate redemption.
What Does Isaiah 41:25 Mean?
God now speaks of His chosen instrument, a ruler raised up from the north (likely Cyrus of Persia, though the language reaches beyond any single historical figure). He will come from the rising of the sun, advancing inexorably. And as he comes, he will call upon God's name, acknowledging the source of his authority. The princes of nations will be nothing before him, ground as the potter crushes clay beneath his feet. The imagery is one of overwhelming, total conquest. What seemed immovable becomes as soft as mortar or clay.
For us, this is a picture of how God works in history. He raises up whom He will for His purposes. When we see events that seem to confirm the power of idols and nations, we are invited to remember that even these are instruments in God's hand, clay in the hands of the potter.
In the Original Language
qara (Hebrew), 'call upon' -- invokes or summons, implying that the ruler recognizes and appeals to God's authority and power as the source of his own.
Application
When we see what appear to be overwhelming obstacles or unjust powers, we can trust that God is working through history according to His plan. He is never surprised, never defeated. His purposes move forward with the inevitability of clay being shaped by the potter.