The sovereignty of God
Jul 29th, 2010 | By tglover | Category: Taylor Daily Press
A common error is comparing God to us in an effort to understand Him. Intellectually, we know that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9). There is nothing to which we may compare Him that fully describes His nature. For example, we hear much about the love of God when comparing Him to an earthly parent. Someone will exclaim, “What loving father would send his child to hell?” While we know God is love (1 John 4:8), do we also know that he is “a consuming fire?” (Hebrews 12:29) and that it is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31)? The efforts made by theologians and scholars of the highest sort must acknowledge that our finite minds cannot comprehend His infinite power and wisdom. Walk in a room full of preachers discussing predestination and foreordination. It‘s humorous to hear the sophistry of learned men who speak with confidence and appear to have it all worked out. Of course, so does every other preacher in the room and their views are not shared alike. The fact remains: Our God is Sovereign and I have a distinct limitation. I’m not God and all efforts to understand Him are limited.
He acts when it pleases Him (Ps 115:3). He doesn’t ask anyone’s permission or think it necessary to explain the reason behind those actions (cf. 135:5-6). I have evidence to believe that while I may not understand His purposes, it will just and righteous. For example, in Isa 10:5-7, God used Assyrians as a rod of discipline for His people, even though Assyria had no intention or plan to obey Him. Joseph speaking to his brothers about the evil they committed against him when they sold him into captivity, said in Genesis 50:2, “you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
This is why I do not believe God’s plan to establish the kingdom was thwarted because of the Jews who rejected Him and that He established the church instead. God sent Jesus into the world to be given the throne of David. Who is going to admit that He was stopped? He not only accomplishes what he plans, David explains that if anyone alters plans, it is God. He writes, “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation” (Psalm 33:10-11). This is why the promises of God give the Christian such confidence! He rules in heaven and on earth.
God’s sovereignty includes His rule among the nations (Ps. 47:8). After Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling experience, he acknowledges, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but he does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34-35) Earlier, he is recorded saying, “The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes” (Dan 4:25).
It is imperative that we seek Him and His will, and not our own. Either way, God is still sovereign so that in doing our own will, He is using us as he did Joseph’s brothers or ancient Assyria to accomplish his purpose. How awesome is that?
The proper response to this is that given in Psalm 2:10-12. “Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”
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