UNDERSTANDING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

Dear Members in Christ,

Understanding the Sovereignty of God

Christians must understand the doctrine of the “Sovereignty of God”. Thus, whatever happens in the life of a Christian, good or bad, are according to His sovereign will. There is always a purpose. It is for the glory of God and for reproof, for correction, for learning, to strengthen the faith and edification of the saints.

It is not easy and pleasant to endure, to accept or give glory to God when we are afflicted, for example, with a terminal illness. Our faith must be exercised through much spiritual effort, unless our faith is already strong enough for us to accept. Faith builds up greater faith like a body builder builds up more muscle mass with repeated effort. Dear brethren, we are to do the same so that we exercise and experience more faith. In this way, we have the victory through Christ who loves me (cf. Romans 8:37).

So, there is always a higher purpose of God, according to His sovereign will, why certain events happen in a Christian’s life. A Christian, therefore, should not attribute “good luck” or “bad luck” to events in his or her life but instead say “God’s will be done”.

God's Sovereignty explained according to the Westminster Confession of Faith:  It is God’s unchangeable, eternally determined plan that orders all things that come to pass, or will come to pass, both great and small, in creation, providence, and redemption. This divine decree is carried out through His wise counsel and providence, ensuring that nothing obstructs nor hinders His ultimate purpose, which is to the praise of His own glory.

The Confession further clarifies that God's decree does not remove the natural liberty nor contingency of secondary causes but establishes them, ensuring His ultimate plan is accomplished without impinging on human responsibility. 

Let us meditate on the lives of both Joseph and Moses on how God’s plan worked out even when human actions seem hopeless or evil. It clearly declares that God’s sovereignty does not cancel human responsibility but works through it.

God’s faithfulness: To fulfil His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God sent Joseph first to Egypt on the basis of the envy, hatred and wickedness of his brothers, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:20).

Through Joseph, Jacob and the whole family went to Egypt and God made them prosperous and multiplied over there: “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7).

Moses was Born in a Challenging time: When the Pharaoh who elevated Joseph to a position of power in Egypt died, the new Pharaoh did not know Joseph nor appreciate his good work of sustaining Egypt through 7 years of famine.

This Pharaoh and the Egyptians envied and hated the Hebrews and afflicted them, forcing them to work hard as slaves to build the treasure cities of Pithom and Raamses. To stop the increase of the Hebrew population, Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill all the newly born Hebrew sons.

However, when Moses was born, the Lord helped his God-fearing parents and nourished Moses at home for three months. “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment” (Hebrews 11:23).

God used Pharaoh's daughter to save Moses: “… she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink” (Exodus 2:2c-3). Moses’ parents surely trusted the LORD and committed Moses to His loving care. Miriam, the sister of Moses, stood afar watching what might happen to Moses.

It is by God's sovereignty that Pharaoh's daughter came down to wash herself at the river,

She took pity on the Hebrew child, and rescued Moses from the water. “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).

It is by God's providence that Miriam, came and suggested calling a Hebrew woman to nurse Moses, and that woman was none other than Moses' mother. Thus, Moses was nurtured by his own godly parents physically and spiritually so well that later by the work of the Holy Spirit, Moses still remembered the LORD and His people. “And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water” (Exodus 2:10).

Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

From this narrative, we can see that Moses was indeed raised by God according to His own timing for the purpose to lead His people back to the promised land of “milk and honey”. No man nor anything can obstruct nor hinder the Will of God.

Conclusion: God is always in control. His sovereignty means nothing happens by chance. He has a good purpose for every event in our lives, even when we cannot understand it. Like Joseph and Moses, our lives are part of God’s bigger plan.

Understanding God’s sovereignty helps us to stop worrying, stop blaming “luck,” and start trusting that our loving Father rules over everything. This gives us peace in trials and gratitude in blessings which means:

• When we face problems, we can pray and trust that God is working for our good (cf. Romans 8:28).
• We should not say “good luck” or “bad luck” but instead say, “God’s will be done.”
• When blessings come, we thank Him; when trials come, we depend on Him more.
• We live each day faithfully, knowing that even small things are under His hand.

Let us, therefore, walk with a thankful and trusting heart, obeying His Word, testifying for Him, and serving Him with joy.    

In Christ,
Eld. Choe Tong Seng