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“The Sovereignty Of God Over The Nations - Part 8”
The Sovereignty Of God Over The Nations - Part 8
Wade Webster
In the course of this study, we have seen the sovereignty of God defined, declared, and displayed. In the final installment of this study, we will see the sovereignty of God dismissed.
Sovereignty Dismissed
Even though God’s sovereignty is clearly seen in the Scriptures, many dismiss it. They don’t want a sovereign God. They don’t want anyone to rule over them. Charles Spurgeon observed that many people are willing for God to be anywhere except on his throne. He can be in the hospital healing the sick. He can be in the prayer room answering prayers. He can be in the storehouse pouring out blessings. They just don’t want Him on the throne telling them how to live (Jeremiah 181-182). Someone else suggested that many want a jack in the box God. They want a God who pops out whenever they call Him but then goes back into the box until they need Him again (Evans 90). Consider a few examples from the pages of Scripture of those who dismissed the sovereign God of Scripture:
- “Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?’” (Job 21:14-15).
- “Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ Therefore hear, you nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people—The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words Nor My law, but rejected it” (Jer. 6:16-19).
- “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;” (Romans 1:28).
In addition to not wanting God to rule over them, they want to rule over God. They want to tell God how to do things. Imagine someone coming into your house and telling you what is wrong with it. They don’t like the floor plan, the color of the walls, the furniture or how you have it arranged. What would you say? Probably, you would say something like this: When you start paying the mortgage, doing the maintenance, and buying the furniture, then you can have a say in how things are done (Evans 90-91). Sadly, many have done this very thing with God. They walk into God’s house and start telling Him how things ought to be done when He built it and bought it. Because it belongs to Him, He has the right to order it as He sees fit. When we start creating planets and filling them with plants, animals and people, then maybe we can tell God how to do things.
In this study, we have examined the sovereignty of God. We have seen it defined, declared, displayed, and dismissed. The sovereignty of God troubles the sinner. It gives him a fearful expectancy of judgment (Heb. 10:27). The sovereignty of God comforts the saint. Knowing that God is on His throne gives us a peace that passes understanding (Phil. 4:6-7). I pray that this study has brought you comfort and not fear.
