June 2, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The book of Proverbs is a collection of short sayings in the Old Testament meant to instill wisdom <\/em><\/strong>in God\u2019s people. As we read, it is important to remember that a proverb is a statement which is generally<\/em> true in principle, not a universally <\/em>true promise. Let\u2019s dig into the Word together and allow the Lord to shape our hearts, our minds, and our lives in his wisdom over the next month!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chapter 16 of Proverbs highlights the sovereignty of God multiple times. Verse 9 states that \u201cThe heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps\u201d, and in verse 33 the author says that \u201cThe lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.\u201d We see that everything, from the grand scale of cosmic history, to the path that our lives take, to even something as small as the roll of a die is determined according to the purpose and plan of God! His authority and power are so complete that no event or circumstance or situation lies outside of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many throughout the course of history have balked at the idea of God being sovereign, or even asserted that if God is sovereign then he cannot be good: how could a God who is both good and sovereign allow such pain and suffering to exist in the world? We might think along similar lines, or perhaps think that God\u2019s sovereignty is bad news for us because it means that we aren\u2019t really the ones in control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are not easy questions to answer, but we can rest assured from God\u2019s Word that, for those of us who are in Jesus Christ, God\u2019s complete sovereignty is a very good thing! It is only by God\u2019s sovereignty that we can know that there is reward in following Him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s sovereignty means that He can and will deliver on every single promise He has made to us; it means that He has controlled the events of human history in order to bring about our salvation and redemption in Jesus Christ; it means that the end of the story has been decided from before it began, and it ends in victory and eternal joy for all who are in Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebrate God\u2019s sovereignty today, and choose to see it as the precious promise that it is!<\/p>\n\n\n\n