The Sovereignty of God in the Bible

Table of Content

1. Over the Creation of the Universe
2. Over the life of Adam and Eve
3. Over the Flood of Noah
4. Over the Call and Separation of Abram
5. Over the life of Isaac
6. Over the life of Jacob
7. Over the life of Joseph

8. Over the life of Israel in Egypt
9. Over the life of Moses
10. Over the life Israel in the Wilderness

11. Over the life of Joshua
12. Over the Conquering the Promise Land

13. Over the life of Israel during Judges
14. Over the life of Ruth

15. Over the life Samuel the Prophet
16. Over the life of King Saul
17. Over the life of King David
18. Over the life of King Solomon

19. Over the kingdom of Israel
20. Over the kingdom of Judah
21. Over the lives of Prophets (Elijah & Elisha)

22. Over the lives of Prophets (Jonah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, & Daniel)
23. Over the lives of Jews in Babylon

24. Over the life of Esther
25. Over the return of the Jews from Babylon
26. Over the rebuilding of the Temple

27. Over the 400 years of Silent Years

28. Over the life of Jesus (His life, death & resurrection)
29. Over the early Church Age (Book of Acts)
30. Over the life of Paul (his ministries and writings)

31. Over the Revelation of Jesus Christ (book of revelation)

32. Over the Church in History
33. Over the Future

Understanding the Sovereignty of God
1. The Sovereignty of God and the Bible
2. The Sovereignty of God and the Attributes of God
3. The Sovereignty of God and the Miracles
4. The Sovereignty of God and the Prayers
5. The Sovereignty of God and Man
a. The Sovereignty of God Free-will of Man
b. The Sovereignty of God and the Suffering of Man
c. The Sovereignty of God and the Hope of Man
6. The Sovereignty of God and the Church
7. The Sovereignty of God and the Satan

INTRODUCTION

Its is Biblical
It is a Biblical fact that God is and was and will be sovereign God. God cannot be God unless He is sovereign in Himself. Since God is always sovereign it cannot be question and doubt. In questioning and doubting it we are offending God’s divinity. Questioning God’s sovereignty is to question His power, His authority, His actions, His love and His person. Therefore, rejecting the sovereignty of God is denying the existence of God.

Its is Applicable
The Sovereignty of God is a subject to be subjected unto. It is to love than trying to learn. It is a truth of the Bible revealed so clearly through out its pages and in the history for man to accept it as it is. Though it is revealed unto us so vividly it cannot be understood fully like just as with divine nature of God. Unless some one believes that God is sovereign he or she cannot begin to even know the taste of it.

It is the Hope of Human race
Thus, the sovereignty of God becomes the only solution to the world and its system. Answers to all the questions of the world are hidden in His sovereignty alone. It is the only solution to human race in the world to live according to His will and purpose.

CHAPTER ONE : OVER THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen.1:1

Bible in the very beginning of it declares God as Sovereign God. Genesis 1:1 puts a solid and sure foundation to it and points to the rest of records in the Scripture. A humble and wise heart will surely be able to see in Genesis.1:1 that God was, is and will be Sovereign. So, whether man understands it or not, man accepts it or not, he always remains the same and unchanging Sovereign God. It is out of the time factor, it is beyond the human understanding and it is not limited to the whole universe.

As Bible says, ‘In the beginning God created…’ Creation has a beginning and a starting time. When was that beginning, no one knows except God Himself. And to ask when and why He created the universe in that particular time is questioning His sovereignty directly. It is trying to give a time table to God in order to begin His creation. And it is not Biblical to question the sovereignty of God.

Since we should not question the sovereignty of God in regards to the creation Bible says it is created for His pleasure. Will and glory. Bible clearly motioned that creation declares the glory of God. As Bible says it is God created He created the universe out of nothing. This shows the supreme power of God and His knowledge. And where there is will of God is understood, the power of God is displayed, the knowledge of God is seen and the glory of God revealed there is the sovereignty of God.

Wise Solomon said to remember God as our creator while we are young not examine or observe God as creator.
CHAPTER TWO : OVER THE LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE

And God said, let us make man in our own image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over everything creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1: 26 – 28

I really thank His Spirit to mention in the Scripture about the creation of man so vividly than other creation. It might be because God had planned man to become the crown of His creation and represent His power, knowledge, will and glory on the earth. We have read that God created man to have authority and rule the entire earth.

Bible reveals at least 3 things about the creation of man :-

i. Creation of man is the Desire of God

Bible says it is God said to create man. It is God initiative action. It is God who wanted to create man. No other creature suggested or given Him the idea. It supremely and completely God’s own act. God desired to do so and so he did it. And to ask why He desire so is questioning God’s sovereignty.

ii. Creation of man is the Decision of God

The words Let Us Create…must be the decision of the triune God head. Creation of man was the divine decision of God the father, of God the San and of God the Holy Spirit. A sincere Bible study reveals that every works of God it involves whole Trinity directly. Because He is supreme and author of His won will and desire He takes His won decision. This too is a fact of His sovereignty alone that man is created to have dominion over the whole earth.

iii. Creation of man is the Design of God

God created man in His own image and likeness out of dust; he created them male and female. Creation of man was completely different from the rest of the creation. Man is not created as other heavenly creatures and angelic beings. There are different classes of heavenly being: some have 2 wings and some have 4 wings and still some have 6 wings; every one has different responsibilities and created with different purposes. Even all the living creatures are created with the different purpose on this earth. Everything’s are created as He said from his mouth. But man is created with His divine decision. The root meaning of created in regards to man is he formed. And we read in the Bible that God form man out of dust. Some scholars explained that God worked out in forming man out of dust just like a potter works out on clay to make a pot or vessel. This means to say that creation of man is special and unique creation with unique purposes.

He created them in his own image and likeness. The rest are not made according His own image and likeness, even His angelic beings. Man is created with a body, soul and spirit which other creatures do not have. Man alone represents God’s image and likeness on the entire universe.

Man, again, is created as male and female to replenish and fill the earth. It is a blessing to man to reproduce of their own kind. If God would have fill the earth with mankind without the creating man as male and female, he could have. But He did not because He is supreme, self governing and sovereign God. Why did God create man with one head, tow hands and one heat, and not like other creatures etc is question of fool against His sovereignty.

And God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eatest of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Gen. 2: 16 – 17

The temptation and fall of man is too a matter of God’s sovereignty. Man fallen into temptation because his own weakness. He sinned due to his lust of flesh, lust of eyes and the pride of life. He disobeyed the commandment of God deliberately. (Genesis. 3)

Some ask questions like, why did God created the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, since God in His omniscient knowledge the past, the present and future; he knew that Adam and Eve will surely sinned against Him. This question takes us again to creation of Satan. Why God did created Satan who is against God and man? Again, this question leads us to ask, why God allowed Satan to enter the garden to tempt man. Again, we need ask then, why did God create sin such an evil thing? We go on have questions but never find solution except we leave it to God’s sovereignty.

I never knew with what purpose God created the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, except we read that God planted it in the midst of the garden to test man’s obedience. I why did he do so since he knew man will surely disobey Him. It is also beyond my understanding to ask why He allowed Satan to tempt man in to sin. He did allow because man had power, authority and free will to choose what was right. And He did not stop man from sinning because Satan could have question God’s justice pointing out Adam’s free will and authority to fight against Satan and temptation. My desire of giving these possible answers is to tell that God is always sovereign. The reason of Satan existence and the source of Sin is definitely not God as Bible says so. But to know why He allowed these is under the sovereign God alone. Though sin was allowed to enter in to world it is under the sovereign rule of God. Satan himself too is under the supreme rule of God. He is one of the creatures who turned into the arch enemy of God. Bible in some instance mentioned about God allowing Satan to work against man and also in some did mention that He was not allowed. Bible records God moving the hearts of man as He wishes. There are times God preserve man from falling and overcoming temptation as well as there are times when God allowed it. But nevertheless God is always sovereign is never change and questioned in the Scripture. Every reason of His sovereignty cannot be known. It is not possible because they are not revealed unto to us and this too is a matter of His sovereignty.

Man on the earth is a proof of God’s sovereignty. Thus, man should not question against it, rather be humble to do His purpose alone.


CHAPTER THREE : OVER THE FLOOD OF NOAH

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And it repented the Lord that He had created man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.
And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I created from the face of the earth: both man and the beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air: for it repenteth me that I have made them.
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Gen.6:5 – 8)

Here we see the grief pf God and the grace of God. Both proceeded from the heart of the Lord. We also see two kind of generation: wicked generation and righteous generation.

The sin caused by Adam and Eve have taken a very deep root in the man, even to his heart. We read that every imagination of the man’s heart was nothing but evil. God even destroyed the beasts and creeping things; it could be due to man might have committed sin with beats and creeping things of the earth. This grieved the Lord so much that I regret of creating man on the earth.

The first question strikes our mind here is why did God regret or repented of creating since He knew that generation of Adam and Eve will be wicked on the earth. How can God repent of creating man? Was it a mistake of God that He created man on this earth?

Apostle Paul given a clear account of this past history under the inspiration of God in Romans: 1: 18 – 32:

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.
24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

I believe God never do any mistake or sin; if so He is not God at all. So then, what could be the meaning of God repented ? I understand these words as God grieved because of the sin of man. God has heart and loving God. Since he created man in His own image and likeness He grieved that man become so sinful. Jesus was grieved in His heart when he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane before He was crucified. Jesus cried before the tomb of Lazarus. God did not grieved as He regret of creating man but grieved that man knowingly became His enemy and rejected His sovereign will and purposes. Man was created to fill the earth and rule over the creation but man instead sinned against God and made the creation sinful.

Now in this regard still we ask that God did mistake of creating man, and then we are against God’s sovereignty. And this is not Biblically approved. When man sinned against God in His sovereign grace saved Noah and His family.

Bible said Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God was gracious to Noah because His faith in Him.

But the question here is: how and why God allowed such devastation to happen on the earth to destroy all the creation since He is so gracious and merciful? This is our foolishness to ask why God destroyed. Instead of, should we asked ourselves that why God need not to punish sin and wickedness. Since He is righteous God He punished the wicked and because He is merciful He save the righteous. In both the cases we see God being sovereign. The justice of God and His mercy cannot be separated. Both the attributes are exercised under His sovereignty.

From the beginning of the flood till Noah and family came out of the ark God’s justice and mercy was displayed in a vivid manner. His sovereignty alone is the reason behind the first flood story of the history. It is His sovereignty which granted wisdom to Noah to make the ark and to care of all living creatures and family in side the ark during floods. Bible never records any visions or revelation from God revealed unto Noah during the flood God alone in His sovereignty enabled Noah to lead and keep the family.

We see after the flood Noah planted vineyard and get dunked and prophesied about his sons in Genesis. 10. His course and blessing to sons came to be the future of their generation. The generation of his sons filled the earth and everything that Noah prophesied about them has been seen in them today. It is too is possible only if we see in the view God’s sovereignty alone.

After the flood the rebellious in the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 is so clear message of His Sovereignty. Because God is sovereign He came down and confused their language so that they would spread everywhere and filled the earth.


CHAPTER FOUR : OVER THE CALL AND SEPARATION OF ABRAM

1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Call of Abraham has turned the history to another page. Not only we see the book of Genesis second section begins with the call of Abram but also we can see God taking another great step to fulfill His great plan of Salvation of the mankind by spreading Abram out the confused, separated, and pagan generations. Why God did chose only Abram alone from his generation? Since Abram was too a pagan worshiper and therefore a gentile. Yet God out of His sovereignty call him out of the land idol worship for His divine purpose.
Today 3 major religions respect and honor Abraham namely Jews, Muslim and Christianity. Let’s see how God shoed His sovereignty through out the life of this man who called to be the friend of God, the father of nations, and father of faith. The book of Genesis has described the life of Abraham in 14 chapters (11-24). From the death of his father to till his death Abraham have faced a lot of tests:-

1. His call and Separation from his land and family ( Gen.12:1 - 9)
2. The famine in Egypt ( Gen.12:10-20)
3. The Separation from Lot ( Gen.13)
4. The Deliverance of Lot from Sodom (Gen.14)
5. His Sacrifice to God (Gen.15)
6. The adoption of Hagar (Gen.16)
7. The Institution of Circumcision (Gen.17)
8. Intercede prayer for Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.18)
9. The Lies to Abimelech (Gen.20)
10. The Sacrifice of Isaac ( Gen. 22)

1. His call and Separation from his land and family ( Gen.12:1 - 9)
With the call of Abram, later named Abraham, God began a people whose descendants are living in ethnic purity to this very day. God had promised that He would send a Deliverer to undo the curse of sin that befell the human race when Adam and Eve sinned. (Gen. 3:15) After Cain killed Abel, God gave them another son whose name, Seth meant "the appointed one". God later choose Noah, a descendent of Seth and a righteous man, to save mankind when God judged the wicked men on the earth in the Great Flood. Through Noah's son Shem, in the ninth generation, God choose another man named Abram (meaning "exalted father") to be in the lineage of Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is clear picture of God’s sovereignty.
God had promised that He would send a Savior and salvation to man. His plan was to call this man Abram, and from him make a great nation of people who would be, not only the people from whom the Messiah would come, but also they would be God's chosen nation, a witness of God to all the earth. (See Deut. 7:7-8, 28:37, Isa. 43:9-10).
Who can call a man, separate him from rest of nations and can have such a great plan for the salvation of whole mankind through him? How can he or she have this? Who can shoes particularly that man in order to bring out the Savior of the World? God Almighty alone can execute such plan and action for mankind in His sovereignty.
2. The Famine in Egypt ( Gen.12:10-20)

10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, this is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, what is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
The famine came into Abraham’s life as another test in his journey. The Bible says that famine was very great in the land. It is to say the famine was all over the land of Canan. World’s calamities and disasters like this have no accurate answers about why and how of them? God alone know when and why He allows such things to happen on the face of the earth. Definitely God allowed such great famine with a reason while He has just called out Abraham for His great plan of salvation of mankind.
Could it be test to Abram from God? God always test His children’s trust on Him. Abram as the father of faith called to be the father of the nations was tested by God is not to be a strange thing for a Christian. God test us to prove and prone our faith to a higher level. Yet the question come to our mind in regards to famine is why God needed to allow other innocent people to die in strengthening Abram’s faith. Why God allowed other people to suffer in bringing out a chosen people through Abram? There could be some more doubt and questions such as these.
But if we look in the eye of God’s sovereign will and purpose we will have no questions rather to be humble before of His actions and plans. God has definite answer, but might not be revealed in the Bible for us or might be that we are not able to understand it. Abram failed in this test and faced the result of it as we see in the rest of the chapters of Genesis. Hagar followed Abram and became a problem in his family. Nevertheless, God has anther plan for Hagar and his son Ishmael.
We can go on see in these ways God’s sovereign will and plan alone been fulfilled and revealed in the entire Bible. And we will not have any answers for our questions rather to submit ourselves to His sovereign will. Let us agree to the fact that God allowed the famine to Abram’s life under His sovereign power and plan.
3. The Separation from Lot ( Gen.13)
Bible declares that Lot was righteous person. He know the call of God to Abraham. He knew the plan that God had for Abraham and his children. Therefore he knew the Lord and followed Him along with Abraham.
God told Abraham to separate Lot and his family from him not because Lot was unrighteous man, but rather to keep both the family from falling in to unrighteousness. Just as Abraham was righteous before God so also Lot, yet it was God’s will that Abraham was chosen for His glory and not Lot. The reason why God chose Abraham and not Lot is not because Abraham was not more righteous than Lot rather both from the same land of idol worship and were of same family background. God choose Abraham not because he was elder to Lot. God chose has chosen Isaac the younger brother and not Ishmael, Jacob the younger son and not Esau, Joseph the youngest brother not other sons of Jacob. Why then Abraham was chosen and Lot was separated? It is because God is Sovereign God.
When God separated Lot he had definite plan for him and his family, so also for Abraham. Lot was separated for His glory and for His salvation plan to e fulfilled through Abraham alone. And this is only possible because God is sovereign.
Lot, after the separation lost his possession and his wife in Sodom and Gomorrah. ….

To be Continue…