Divine Sovereignty: Scripture and Reflection

God is presented as the Sovereign Creator at the beginning of Scripture in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

God is presented as the Sovereign Creator again when creation is spoken of in light of Christ in John 1:3, “All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.”

God’s sovereignty is established in creation as we read in Acts 17:24, “The God who made the world and everything in it: He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands.” God’s sovereignty is demonstrated in His sustaining power over His creation as we read in Acts 17:28, “For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'”

God’s sovereignty over His creation is seen throughout the Scriptures:

· In inanimate creation (Job 37:6-13; 38:12, 22-32; Ps. 104:4, 14; 135:6-7; 148:8 Matt. 5:45)

· In animals (Job 38:39-41; Ps. 104:27-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29)

· In seemingly random or chance events (Prov. 16:33)

· In the affairs of nations (Job 12:23; Ps. 22:28; Dan. 4:34-35)

· In the will of kings (Ezra 1:1; 6:22; Ps. 33:14-15; Prov, 21:1)

· In the will of believers (Phil. 2:13)

· In every aspect of our lives (Job 14:5; Ps. 139:16; Prov. 16:9; Prov. 20:24; Jer. 10:23; Matt.6:11; Gal. 1:15; Phil. 4:19)

We may sometimes feel out of control. The truth is, even on our best days– as we exercise God-given wisdom in how we order our actions, as we practice godly self-control–the amount of control we are able to exercise is still quite limited. But God is always in control. As we trust in God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can take comfort that He is working out everything for our ultimate good and His glory (Rom 8:28).