We read in Jonah 3:9, “Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” (ESV)
The one who said these words in the verse mentioned above, was the King of Nineveh, which makes it truly astounding. Let me give you a background which led to this response by the king of Nineveh. The Prophet Jonah was sent by God with the message that the city of Nineveh would be destroyed in forty days, because of their evil ways, and increasing wickedness. All the people of that city, and the king himself repented, and realized that they needed to change their ways. They willingly accepted the word of the prophet, and fully believed the word that was preached. This was the response of the people, the king and even the livestock all of whom took a fast, the people and their king put on sackcloth, and they sat down in ashes, as a sign of true repentance and penitence before God.
It was at this point that the king declared the above mentioned words, “Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish” as recorded in Jonah 3:9. In spite of the fact that the people and the king believed in God’s word, repented and made all the necessary changes, the king was still hopeful that the Lord would look down with favor, and relent from His fierce anger. It was not as though the king could be sure of God’s move, but rather hoped that God would hold back His anger. The king did all that he could, and yet he couldn’t be sure of God’s response.
This clearly portrays the sovereignty of God over all of His creation. No one can counsel God, but when we turn back to Him, the Lord in His mercy could shower His grace and favor on us. This kind of a perspective can be had only by those who understand who God really is. There are many who are presumptuous, and brazen enough to say that they can order the hand of God to do anything for them. While on the one hand we have faith and firmness of our belief in God, on the other hand, we need to understand God’s sovereignty, and realize that He is Almighty, awesome, and reigns as King over all. Often we forget this truth, but let us see what the prophet Isaiah says about God in the verse below.
We read in Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember what happened long ago. Remember, I am God and there is no other God. There is no other like me. "In the beginning, I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago, I told you things that have not happened yet. When I plan something, it happens. I do whatever I want to do.” (ERV)
These are astounding facts about God. As human beings we know our past, and some things about the present, but we can never know what the future holds. God on the other hand can tell us everything from the beginning to the end. The Lord will fulfill everything that He plans, and desires to do. Oftentimes, man forgets who he is, and speaks about God in a careless way. Also there is a trend where many are blatant to declare that God said something, when in reality God did not do so. We should therefore be cautious to comprehend who God is, and also to realize that God is worthy of all our honor, and is high above all else.
We will try to study and understand what happened to those who comprehended the sovereignty of God in their lives.
Three men who understood the sovereignty of God
We read in Daniel 3:17, “If you throw us into the hot furnace, the God we serve can save us. And if he wants to, he can save us from your power.” (ERV)
Some of the young men from Israel were taken captives to Babylon, which was ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar. This king made a huge statue of gold, and passed a decree that everyone in that province should worship the golden image. There were three young men who were so zealous for the Lord that they declared that they would not bow down to the image, even if it meant being cast into the fiery furnace. When the king heard this news that these young men were defiant to his edict, he was so enraged that he ordered that these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be thrown into the blazing furnace. The above mentioned verse was the response of these young men to the King’s orders. By so doing these men were asserting that the God they worshipped was the Almighty God who could deliver them from the hands of the king, and the deadly fiery furnace.
They went on further to announce in Daniel 3:18, But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty may be sure that we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up." (GNB)
Their faith was not based on the circumstances they faced on earth, but rather their faith was on the living God whom they worshipped. These young men understood that though situations may not be favorable, and even if their bodies had to be burned in the furnace they still would not let go of their faith in God, because He would do everything for their own good. They honored the sovereignty of God even in the face of death itself. These young men were courageous enough to declare that they would not worship their gods or bow down to the gold statue, even if God did not intervene to deliver them out of the fiery furnace. The three young men had understood that as long as they lived on the earth, their understanding and revelation about God was limited, but that they would be able to comprehend everything only when God choses to reveal it in eternity.
This sort of a perspective is so lacking in so many people these days. We should come to the point of acknowledging that God is able to do everything for us. However, if for some reason He chooses to not answer us according to our own desires, we should not grumble or complain because God is sovereign and unchanging. Not one of the plans of God can be thwarted by anyone. There are two aspects that need to keep us moving forward in this life, one is our faith in God, and the other is the perspective that He is sovereign, and that therefore everything that He allows in our lives will be only for our good. The situations we encounter may appear to be evil, but God is able to change it for our good. We hear many these days saying that God said something, when God never did say so. It is evident that such people are not walking in close fellowship with God, and therefore they are blatant to share these things. It is important for us as children of God to test every prophesy, to see if it is in line with the word of God, and be cautious to not accept any and everything that men declare in the name of God.
David submits to God’s sovereignty
We read about David in the bible. God raised him up from being a shepherd boy, to become king of Israel. Nonetheless, David was caught in the sin of lust when he desired Bathsheba, wife of Uriah who was serving in his army. David committed adultery, and Bathsheba became pregnant. When David tried to cover up his sins, and failed to do so, he subtly arranged for Uriah to be placed in the thick of battle, so that he would lose his life. A baby was born as a result of this affair that David had, but the baby fell sick. David pleaded with God with prayer and fasting, to spare the life of this baby, but on the seventh day the baby died.
When David heard that the baby died, this was David’s response as recorded in 2 Samuel 12:20, “Then David got up from the floor. He washed himself. He changed his clothes and got dressed. Then he went into the LORD'S house to worship. After that he went home and asked for something to eat. His servants gave him some food, and he ate.” (ERV)
The servants of David were surprised at David’s response when he knew that the baby whom he had been pleading with God for to be saved, had died. While the baby was sick he fasted and prayed, but after the news of the baby’s death, David got up washed himself, ate and went about his routine.
We read in 2 Samuel 12:21, His officials asked him, "Why are you acting this way? You fasted and cried over the child when he was alive. But as soon as the child died, you got up and ate." (GW)
Here is David’s response in 2 Samuel 12:22-23, David said, "While the baby was still living, I cried and refused to eat because I thought, 'Who knows? Maybe the LORD will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.' But now the baby is dead, so why should I refuse to eat? Can I bring the baby back to life? No. Someday I will go to him, but he cannot come back to me." (ERV)
David recognized the sovereignty of God, just like the King of Nineveh did. He perceived that while the baby was still alive, there was a hope that God would be gracious to him, and let the baby live. However, when God in His sovereignty had decided to take the baby, and David knew that he had to submit to God’s divine will for his life. Read the words of David again, “Who knows? Maybe the Lord will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.” These are the words of a man who recognized the sovereignty of God over his life.
Whenever we are going through a particular situation, our understanding and comprehension of the situation we are faced with is fairly limited. On the basis of this restricted understanding we make decisions, and also have our perception about God based on this narrow understanding. However, the Almighty God alone perceives the entire situation, and so in every circumstance we must look to God, trusting Him and His wisdom completely. The bible teaches us that faith is the evidence of things hoped for and the things not seen. Nonetheless, God is bigger than faith itself, and hence we must be those who are willing to acknowledge the supremacy of God in every situation we face.
God’s sovereignty over Moses’ petition
Moses led the people of Israel for forty years in the wilderness. The Lord Himself testified about Moses that Moses was His faithful servant. However when Moses came to the end of his life this is what is recorded about Moses.
We read in Deuteronomy 3:23-25,"Then I begged the LORD to do something special for me. I said, 'Lord GOD, I am your servant. I know that you have shown me only a small part of the wonderful and powerful things you will do. There is no god in heaven or earth that can do the great and powerful things you have done. Please let me go across the Jordan River and see the good land on the other side. Let me see the beautiful hill country and Lebanon.' (ERV)
Moses had led the people of Israel to the brink of the Promised Land through the wilderness. When Moses disobeyed God’s command, and hit the rock twice, the Lord told Moses that he could only see the Promised Land from afar, but would not be permitted to enter it. In this situation Moses begged God to be gracious, and grant him permission so he too could set foot on the Promised Land to see the beautiful hill country and Lebanon. Many times earlier when Moses prayed to God, he received favorable answers from the Lord. However, this was the response that Moses received from the Lord for his request.
We read in Deuteronomy 3:26,"But the LORD was angry with me because of you and refused to listen to me. The LORD said to me, 'That's enough! Don't say another word about this.”(ERV)
Moses told the people of Israel that God was angry with him on account of them, as it was the people who stirred Moses to get angry, and hit the rock. God was not willing to listen to Moses’ petition, and He told him never to speak about it again to Him, and Moses never did bring it up to God again.
Who was this Moses? He was a man mightily used by God, and one of whom God testified about. Nonetheless, the sovereign God bluntly told Moses to not bring up this request to Him again, and Moses obeyed. I am sure that if Moses would in eternity ask God why He forbade him to enter into the Promised Land, God will help him understand why He did so.
Many people are backsliding from their faith, simply because they have failed to understand the supremacy of God in their lives. They think that God must answer every prayer, and grant all of their requests. We saw the king of Nineveh after fasting in sackcloth still acknowledged that God was sovereign, and that he may or may not relent of His anger. David was one who worshipped God, who was considered a man after God’s own heart. Yet, when David prayed for the baby, God did not answer him favorably. As children of God remember that only if we have faith in God we can lead a life that is pleasing to Him. God is able to answer, and give to His children everything we ask for in His time, and in His own way. On the other hand, we must be willing to accept the sovereignty of God over our lives. This means that when God says ‘no’ to some of our requests, we must be willing to joyfully accept it. Only then we will be able to live out the faith that we profess.
We looked at incidents in the life of the king of Nineveh, life of David, and that of Moses. Some of you may say all these are examples from the Old Testament and that all of us are believers in the New Testament under the New Covenant.
God’s sovereignty over Paul’s weakness
Let us look at 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: "My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak." I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (GNB)
Writing to the Corinthian church, Paul spoke about a thorn in his flesh. All of us know that when we step over a thorn it causes so much of pain that we want to remove it first, before we take another step. Paul had this infirmity, this thorn in his flesh that was a constant source of pain to him. Paul pleaded with God to have this removed, but God answered Paul saying that His grace was more than sufficient for Paul, and that God could manifest His power in the midst of all his weaknesses. Paul therefore rejoiced over all of these weaknesses and trials, knowing that God’s power remained with him through it all.
God’s promises are sure, and it is true that He will fulfill all of them. It is also His will to accomplish all that He promised. Above all of it we must remember that God’s sovereignty reigns supreme. He knows everything even things like, ‘why some prayers are not answered,’ ‘why He said ‘no’ to some of our requests.’ Most of the time we may not understand this while here on earth, but we should believe that God will do everything for our good alone. God will never allow evil in our lives, but He is one who changes all that is meant for evil, totally for our good.
In 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Paul says I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (GNB)
We too may be discouraged over several things that happen in our lives. We prayed, but did not get the required answers, and our foundations are shaken. Acknowledge God’s sovereignty and like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego we too should be able to say God can change our situations, and even if He does not do so, we will still cling on to Him, and never let go of Him. It is a fact that we will be challenged in many ways as long as we are here on earth.
We looked at king of Nineveh, David, Moses and Paul. The lessons we learned is that while it is true that our faith will conquer this world, the other side is the fact that God is sovereign. He is supreme, and knows the end from the beginning. Anything He does in our lives will be entirely for our good. With Paul let us say that in our weaknesses we are made strong, and if you are going through a hard path you will understand what Paul said. For the thorn in Paul’s flesh God told him that His grace was more than sufficient. Let us look to God and say to God ‘Your grace is sufficient for me.’ When we go through those valleys of sorrow, heartaches and discouragements let us never fall out on our faith. Paul said he was happy and content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. When we too rejoice in the difficult path that we are treading, we can be sure that the sovereign Lord will carry us safely right to the end.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
