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“The Sovereignty Of God Over The Nations - Part 5”
The Sovereignty Of God Over The Nations - Part 5
Wade Webster
In the previous parts of this study, we noticed the sovereignty of God defined and decared. In this installment, we will see it displayed.
In Sovereignty Displayed
There are many examples in Scripture that show God’s sovereignty. I think that it is easiest to see it in the lives of those who were kings. After all, they had power, riches, and many servants at their disposal. Although they were sovereigns, they were no match for God. Consider three well-known examples from Scripture:
Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt – When Moses and Aaron delivered the command for Pharaoh to let God’s people go, Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go” (Exo. 5:2). Pharaoh was the ruler of the most powerful nation on earth at the time. He was considered a god in Egypt. He saw no need to submit to the God that his slaves worshipped. When he refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Lord, he brought disaster on himself and on his kingdom. In the Psalms, we read, “For I know that the LORD is great, And our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries. He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt, Both of man and beast. He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh and all his servants. He defeated many nations And slew mighty kings Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan—And gave their land as a heritage, A heritage to Israel His people” (Psalms 135:5-12). Again, we read, “To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever; And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endures forever; With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy endures forever; And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endures forever; But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His mercy endures forever (Psalms 136:10-15). Amazingly, God used Pharaoh’s stubbornness to show His own sovereignty. We read, “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens” (Romans 9:14-18).
