He Rules!
Opening Prayer
Lord, Your Word goes out with authority and falters not.
Read Isaiah 44:24–28
24 “This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
I am the Lord,
the Maker of all things,
who stretches out the heavens,
who spreads out the earth by myself,
25 who foils the signs of false prophets
and makes fools of diviners,
who overthrows the learning of the wise
and turns it into nonsense,
26 who carries out the words of his servants
and fulfills the predictions of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’
of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
and I will dry up your streams,’
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd
and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,”
and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”’
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“The Kingdom of God is not a democracy. When the Lord speaks… he utters his law unilaterally. He does not rule by referendum” (R. C. Sproul, 1939–2017).
Sometimes, praying for those in authority, as the Scripture commands, is not easy (e.g., 1 Tim. 2:1,2), is it? Nowadays there are so many different strands of government affecting our lives: local, municipal, state, federal. If something goes wrong, you need to find out who is responsible before you complain. Who is in charge of what may not always be clear!
When it comes to the sovereignty of God, however, there is no such confusion, as this passage demonstrates. Comparing the impotence of the idols of the previous section, the God of Israel is very much in control of all things, in the life of the nation and of its individuals. He made all things in the heavens and the earth (24). Not only did he form Israel in the womb, but he presided over their redemption, too (24). Whatever the false prophets have predicted, or whatever the so-called wise men of the day have declared, will not come to pass—because they are as impotent as the idols. Only the God of Israel controls things (25). Indeed, he will ensure that the words spoken by his messengers will come to pass! Though Jerusalem and its surrounding towns face destruction, they will be rebuilt and inhabited again (26). Though outwardly seen as the work of Cyrus, we know that behind the scenes God is working, and Cyrus is acting out in accordance with God’s plan (28).
God rules! I need not worry, because the sovereign Lord has everything under control. The future of the church is secure too, no matter what the wise men of this world say, because the redemption he offers is eternal. I can trust in him!
Apply
How will facing today in the knowledge of God being over all things make a difference for me?
Closing prayer
Lord, I believe that You formed me in the womb and that You have wonderful things planned for my life.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.