If there is one characteristic of God that people desperately try to deny it is this one. Time and time again God’s Sovereignty is a point of dispute amongst believers. This is nothing new. Augustine was debating this topic in the 300’s against Pelagius.
God’s complete and total rule over the Universe is not hotly debated because Scripture is unclear. It is a rather different reason. The Scriptures are quite clear and the announcement of God’s Sovereignty fills the pages of God’s Word. People want to deny God’s rule over all things.
Charles Spurgeon aptly pointed this out in a sermon on Matthew 20:15.
“Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make starts. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon
It is not that God is not sovereign, or that Scripture doesn’t teach this clearly. The point is that people don’t want this to be true. So, fight after fight over God’s sovereignty occurs and has occurred throughout the ages.
We also ask ourselves about God’s rule over the Universe everytime something devastating occurs. When bad things happen we question or deny God’s control over all things. Yet, it truly is at the moment when bad things happen that we need to understand God’s sovereign rule over the Universe the most. We can find great comfort in the trials and the tribulations that we find ourselves in.
“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovrereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in teh most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothign for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation-the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands-the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne.” – Charles Hzddon Spurgeon
So, with our great comfort in mind, let us look at what Scripture says about God’s Sovereignty.
God Is In Complete Control
God’s rule over all things is total. He is in complete control of the Universe. This is summed up quite wonderfully by the often repeated phrase “He does whatever He pleases” (John 23:13; Psalm 115:3; Psalm 135:6).
It is an amazing amount of power and authority, isn’t it? Who else can say that there are no limitations to what they can do? Obviously, no one. God can accomplish all of His will.
What About The Things That Happen On Earth?
The question that comes next is, what about people’s plans and decisions. Does God intend for the things that happen on Earth to happen? Or is He ruling and reigning yet waiting to see what free creatures will do?
All things that take place are part of God’s plan (Ephesians 1:11). There is no sense in which God is not in control. Though we do make decisions, truly free decisions, all things that take place are part of God’s plan.
What About Bad Things?
The mind then wanders into another question. Is God in control of both good and bad things? Why yes. Yes, He is.
God is not ashamed to show us this in His Word. He is in control of both the good and the bad. God declares that He wounds, heals, makes alive, and kills (Deuteronomy 32:39). God says that He makes both the day of prosperity and adversity (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14). God is not ashamed to say that He both forms light and creates darkness, well being and calamity (Isaiah 45:5-7). Jeremiah lets us know that it is from God that good and bad come (Lamentations 3:37-38).
God is ruling and reigning over all things. And apparently when we read that He is in control of all things then we are to understand that He is in control of all things…not just some of the things that are contained in the word all.
Is God In Control Of Nature?
I felt just as ridiculous writing the question as you think I am for writing the question. You know what my answer is going to be to this question. And, God also leaves no room for guessing here. He claims to be in control of nature (Psalm 147:15-18).
What About Small Decisions?
God is even in control of what we would consider small and chance circumstances (Proverbs 16:33). Circumstances that seem as insignificant as the rolling of a dice. God is in control.
Concluding Thoughts
I have lived through things that were devastating to me. My wife and I have gone through things that could have just broken us. But there has been an anchor for our soul in the midst of turmoil. That anchor was God’s control.
No matter what comes my way I can know and trust that God is in control and is moving all things for my ultimate good.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”-Romans 8:28 ESV
Don’t look at God’s Sovereignty as a place of warfare. Look at it as a place of comfort. When you think on the Lord as your Shepherd, understand that your Shepherd owns and controls it all.
R. Dwain Minor
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