THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #8 of 17

"For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28); "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:3); "One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6); "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11)

Opposition Is Controlled

The faith life thrusts us into a world of opposition. Satan is aligned against us, dominated by a rage that is focused and intent. All that are unregenerate are opposed to us, maintaining contradicting objectives and appetites. Our own "flesh," or Adamic nature, also wages relentless war against "the law" of our mind (Rom. 7:25). These conditions often bring us into circumstances that are quite challenging. Opponents come up against us that appear indomitable, like Goliath against David, or Nebuchaddnezzar against the three Hebrew children. Does Jesus have anything to say about situations like that? Indeed He does! And He speaks them while in such a condition Himself. Standing before a political ruler, Himself a prisoner, He is challenged by the assertion that the ruler could kill Him or let Him go. With confidence, Jesus declared the real situation. NO POWER EXCEPT FROM GOD. (John 19:11) "Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." Pilate's authority was derived, and thus was serving God's purpose. He could not function independently of the will of God, regardless of the apparent circumstances. It is no different with you, child of God. No temptation [or circumstance] can confront you independently of the sovereignty of God. If men have power over you, it is because they have been given that power by God--even if it is someone like Pilate! There may be things about that you do not understand now, but it will all be made clear in the world to come. Until then, it is your work to believe the truth while clinging to the Lord with "purpose of heart" (Acts 11:23). HIS HOUR HAD NOT COME. (John 19:11) "Then they sought to take Him: but no man laid hands on him, because His hour was not yet come." Although His enemies hated Him, and would have killed Him, they could not do so, because of a Sovereign God. His "hour" for betrayal and crucifixion had not come, and thus His enemies were powerless to perform their will. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden, He reminded them of this circumstance. "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Luke 22:53). Child of God, you must learn to rely upon the Sovereign God, committing your soul to Him, as under a "faithful Creator" (1 Pet 4:19). JESUS WAS DELIVERED UP. (Acts 2:33). "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." With great power, Peter preached the Sovereignty of God in the matter of Christ's death. Men operated within the circumference of God's determined counsel and foreknowledge, and NEVER independently of them. What they did was wrong--taking Jesus and through wicked hands crucifying slaying Him--but in their diabolical rebellion, they actually fulfilled the purpose of the Almighty. This did not excuse them, to be sure. It does confirm, however, that regardless of how malicious and intent the enemies of God may be, they cannot fulfill their will apart from His Sovereignty. THE CASE OF JOSEPH. (Gen 45:7) "And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." Here is a most marvelous example of the Sovereignty of God in difficulties. Remember, the point of this dissertation is to confirm that ALL TRIALS ARE UNDER THE STRICT CONTROL OF GOD, and cannot extend one millimeter beyond His purpose for you. Joseph was hated by his brothers, and sold by them into slavery. He was taken to a foreign country, where he did not know the language (Psa 81:5). He was imprisoned on a false charge, and forgotten by fellow prisoners. The Psalmist says of Joseph's remarkable trial, "He [God] sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: UNTIL THE TIME THAT HIS WORD CAME: the word of the LORD tried him" (Psa 105:17). Later, when Joseph was ruling, second only to Pharaoh himself, he confronted his hateful brothers. Although he was in a position to punish them, he saw God in the matter. That is when he stated the text for this section. The period of his trial was controlled by God. THE SELFSAME DAY. (Exodus 12:41,51). "And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt . . . And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies." Israel was enslaved by Egypt for 430 years. It was a period precisely predicted by the Lord to Abraham (Gal 3:17). The Genesis reference to this Abrahamic commitment assigns a period of 400 years, referring only to the "affliction" period, rather than the complete duration of their stay (Gen 15:13). But when the time for their deliverance arrive, they came on on precisely the appointed day. The period of their affliction was controlled by God! GIVEN IN MEASURE. (Psalm 80:5). :"Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure." This is the language of chastening. Although chastening may seem out of control, it is not. The Lord deals with the waywardness of His people in a precise manner, in order to awaken them to their need for Him. The difficulties that produce grievous tears are under the control of the Almighty. LIGHTLY AND GRIEVOUSLY. (Isaiah 9:1). "Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations." Israel was not the only people so corrected. Often the Lord lightly afflicts His people. That lightness is owing to their sensitivity to Him. But if their hearts are hard and obstinate, He will afflict them "more grievously." See, their afflcition is under the control of God! I will tell you that Satan and his hosts do not volunteer to afflict the people of God "lightly." And if you question that Satan is active in this matter, ponder again the revelation of Job's trial (Job, chapters one and two). CORRECTION IN MEASURE. (Jer 46:28). "Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished." Do not think for one moment that the correction of God would not result in our complete expulsion from Him, were it not precisely controlled. When Omnipotence confronts obstinence, very little is required to blot out the wayward one! Thank God for correcrtion in measure. It is always appropriate to the sin, and in consideration of the individual. Correction is always under the control of God!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What of you, dear reader? Has life been difficult for you? Have the trials and stresses of life led you to conclude they are out of control? That thought is a temptation from the evil one--a "fiery dart" designed to produce wrong thinking in you. God has not forgotten you, any more than He forget Joseph. Your enemies have no more power over you than Pilate had over Jesus. The correction you may be undergoing is in measure, and will make you better, not worse. When the trial is over--and it will be soon--God will bring you out, like He brought Joseph out. Do you doubt it? Do you need a more clear word from the Lord? Here it is. "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:10). Need one more?? "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, IF NEED BE, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1:6-7). Hold on, child of God! Hold on!

-- TOMORROW: MARTIN LUTHER'S DEFINITION OF FAITH-- -- MONDAY: UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTH --