Sovereign

I once read that God will suspend the natural laws of this world and act outside them whenever He pleases.

This simple sentence packs quite the punch and left me in awe because it quickly summarizes the sovereignty of God.

The Bible is full of moments when God flexes His sovereignty, leaving one feeling quite small…at least it did for me.

There are times when God requires of us things that are beyond our understanding.

It didn’t make sense for God to tell Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac.

It didn’t make sense for God to tell Moses to stretch his hands out over the Red Sea.

It didn’t make sense for God to tell Joshua to march around Jericho in silence six different times.

Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

It appears that every time God requires of us something that doesn’t make sense, it could also be equated with God flexing His sovereignty.

And as humans, our first response is to question what doesn’t make sense.

We may start out as a “full of faith Job” and then turn into a “hopeless Job” down the road when things keep not making sense.

And sometimes God just needs to remind us exactly who HE is.

Most of us are familiar with Job and his story. A favored man of God; a wealthy, well-established, very successful farmer. And it’s all taken away when satan requests permission to afflict Job and prove the man is nothing more than just words, and God allows it.

From Job’s story, we can see four things that will try to attack and explain away the sovereignty of God. They are represented by the four people who surround Job during this trial.

• Job’s wife perceived him as foolish.

• Eliphas’, Esau’s descendant (Genesis 36:11), perception and advice were based on philosophy.

• Bildad, Abraham’s descendant (Genesis 25:2), perceived and advised based on history.

• Elihu’s, Nahor’s (Abraham’s father) descendant (Genesis 22:21), perception and advice were based on logic.

There will be those who will try to talk you out of your purpose based on foolishness, philosophy, history, and logic.

Yet none of those reasons outweighs the wisdom and sovereignty of God.

Most people get so focused on the fact that God allowed satan to afflict Job, yet few make it to Job Chapter 38 where God eviscerates Job with His sovereignty.

God clearly puts Job in his place with so much sarcasm that it’s actually funny.

Everyone interprets scripture differently, but it's hard to deny that God is extremely irritated with Job and his attitude, to such a degree that He responds to Job's complaining with ironic questions.

Job 38:1-7 (NLT)

“When the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”

Job 38:31-36 (NLT)

“Can you direct the movement of the stars—binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth? Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?”

I would highly recommend you read the full dressing-down of Job throughout chapters 38-41; it’s just epic. It’s the monologue to end all monologues. And in the end, Job is completely humbled and can only respond:

Job 42:2 (NIV)

“I know that You can do all things. Nothing can put a stop to Your plans.”

God is gracious in the sense that He understands our humanness, but even Paul recognizes that the wisdom of God is beyond our understanding.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (NLT)

“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.”

Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 2...

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (NLT)

“Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own Spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s Spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them, and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”

So, to even get a glimmer of understanding of the wisdom of God, we must first commune with the Holy Spirit. But God owes us no explanation. Moses records in Exodus 33:19 that God will show mercy to whomever He chooses. Paul reiterates this exact same message in Romans.

Romans 9:18 (NLT)

“So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.”

He is sovereign.

God is so sovereign that even the heart of a king is like water in His hands. A king, the most powerful position on earth, is nothing compared to God. And God has the authority to turn the heart however He chooses.

Proverbs 21:1 (NLT)

“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.”

Let’s not forget, it is God who changes the times and the years. He removes kings, and He establishes kings.

Daniel 2:21 (NLT)

“He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings....”

He is sovereign.

In case it isn’t clear, God’s sovereignty isn’t here to be understood.

It’s here to be revered.

And it’s here to be revealed.

John 13:7 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

He is sovereign.

God, in all His majesty and power, created a horse to have strength, agility, courage, and speed (Job 39:19-22), and He also takes care of the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26)…how much more valuable are you than a strong horse or delicate bird?

God knew you and formed you before you were ever born. (Jeremiah 1:5)

He created your innermost being in His image, and He has a destiny for your life. (Romans 8:29)

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139:13-16)

You are chosen. (Ephesians 1:4)

Out of His sovereignty, we are created.

In His sovereignty, we are safe and made whole.

His thoughts, His plans, we probably won’t understand them until later.

He does what He pleases; how He pleases; when He pleases.

Even better, He energizes us, giving us the desire and power to do what pleases Him (Ephesians 2:13).

So, engage the Holy Spirit to understand His wisdom.

Until God reveals His plans, we shouldn’t give much energy to what doesn’t make sense. Remember that foolishness, philosophy, history, and logic cannot always explain God or His process. But He is faithful to make firm and direct the steps of those in whom He delights.

Psalms 37:23 (NLT)

“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”

God is for you. He is in you. And He is sovereign.

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