One source states: "The One True God Moving History for His People. God reassures His people that He alone is guiding all events in human history, for His glory and their benefit."
That statement is true and very accurate. But how far do the ripples of God's sovereignty reach?
I'm reading through the book of Isaiah. The whole book seems to scream God's sovereignty over everything. When you come to chapter 40 there are two verses which speak of God's sovereignty in relation to the nations.
V. 15 & 17 -- 15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
It is very apparent from Scripture that God has His hands upon the big things of this world. The nations, large and small, are really of no consequence to God. It's as if God wants us to know that the biggest and most powerful world forces are no problem for Him. In all reality, unbeknownst to them, they are doing His bidding.
I can wrap my brain around God's personal attention being focused upon world powers. There's a lot at stake with what nations do or don't do. A whole bunch of lives can hang in the balance because of a few wrong decisions.
Does God's sovereignty filter down to the "lesser" things? He's sovereign over the whole world and individual nations. But interestingly, nations are not just geographical places. They are made up of individuals. And God's sovereign hand is also moving the smaller chess pieces on the board of His purpose. To control nations He has to be controlling the people: from the top down; from the greatest to the least.
Let's break it down even further. All people are made up of two groups: saved and unsaved. He is sovereign over both. That's how God can use, for example, a Balaam and a Paul.
{I'm trying hard to get to my point :-) }
In short, God is sovereign right down to the smallest details of everything everywhere at all times.
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Our youngest daughter just gave birth to their first child, Isaiah. Upon delivery, it was noticeable that he wasn't breathing properly. That set off a chain of events. Now the little guy is in the children's hospital undergoing a special procedure whereby they lower the body temperature for 72 hours so that more blood will be directed to his brain ... hoping to minimize brain damage. Plus he's hooked up to a bunch of wires and getting morphine. I won't go into all the details.
He will be in the children's hospital for several more days. We are awaiting the outcome of the procedure and other tests. But, praise God, he's doing better and showing good signs of progression -- bodily functions and fluids are active.
So ...
The God that is sovereign over all these big nations is also sovereign over the life of my little grandchild. I must admit that I have struggle some (a lot). I don't understand why all this has happened. But, that's OK. I, we, can rest in our loving Heavenly Father, knowing that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
As a matter of fact, His sovereignty reaches even further than to a little baby child. Here are a couple of verses that are very encouraging to me right now.
Luke 12:6-7 -- Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: Isaiah is of more value than many sparrows.
If you would, please lift Isaiah up to God in prayer.
We would greatly appreciate it.