Because It's What We Want

 

Because It’s What We Want

Sovereign: having the highest power or being completely independent

Ezra 1:1 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,”

2 Kings 22:20 “And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.”

Habakkuk 1:6 “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their's.”

Daniel 5:26 “This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Isaih 14:12 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (NKJV) 

     Somehow we are to reconcile our feeble understanding of God in the affairs of men and our individual choices.  How is God sovereign over nations composed of people running their own ways?  He guides and shapes nations, pitting one to another to keep sin down?  He takes ultimate ownership of this.  In scripture, we read His hand balancing the forces above our heads.  He is known as the ultimate overseeing One with hands outstretched, governing Man’s outcomes on a global level.  He causes increase and decrease, levelling the playing field for those in contest.

     The above verses show God’s hand about Israel.  He was rather particular in circumstances about him.  Afterall, God had a messiah to birth and no hand of man was going to thwart that.  He worked in prophecies, forecasting then revealing in part to those who sought understanding under Him.

     Jesus said all authority is given Him.  Furthermore,

John 19:11 “Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.”  God was particular about His Son also.  Special as the apple of His eye.

     So we see God in general rewarding and punishing nations who chose His ways or abandon the wisdom offered from Heaven.  Then we understand God’s hand specifically sculpting Israel as the lead nation in proclaiming His law of conviction and hope.  Did He need permission for this?  Covenants in agreement with His children guaranteed Him access.  Legal dealings with them brought His presence close enough but not to touch.  The ark testified.

     Does God control?  Yes.  Does He respect our autonomy?  Yes.  We get what we want.  We steer the process as we see, but God maintains the upper and lower limits.  Like a drunk driver on the interstate of life, God still uses the ditches.  He enforces the absolutes.  We are, after all, creatures needing governing because we are bent on destruction.  Praise God He is bigger than nuclear annihilation!  We should rest that He gets involved.  Man is not left to his own. 

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