The Scriptures tell us that God is Sovereign, but what does that mean? Jeremiah 32:17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you![1] Sovereign is “the quality or state of being sovereign, or of having supreme power or authority.”[2] In simple terms, God is in charge and is the king over everything, without exception.
God is King
The Lord tells much about Himself in the Bible. He is the ultimate source of all power and authority and everything that exists, physical and spiritual. This authority is not only over planet earth but the entire creation. Colossians 1:17He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. [3] The Lord is without equal or limitation, including being outside of time as we know it. He is also infinite, with no beginning or end.
God’s Sovereignty Affects Us
Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers, but God protected him. Later, Joseph became Egypt’s second most powerful ruler. The Lord orchestrated a severe drought that brought Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to purchase grain. By doing so, the Lord brought good out of Joseph’s brothers’ poor decisions when they sold him as a slave. These examples show the Lord’s sovereignty and how He controls things. At the same time, the Lord is sovereign; He gives us free will. Genesis 45:7 God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. 8 So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt. [4]
God is in Control
The best part of God’s sovereignty is His control. When my nephew died of cancer, the Lord was in control and at work in this challenging situation. The Lord is in control when our world seems out of control during the recent virus. When God’s enemies are at work, the Lord is in control. The Lord is more powerful and loving and powerful than we can imagine.
One of my favorite verses that comfort me about God’s sovereignty is from Romans 8:28. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.[5]
To learn how God is sovereign, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/joseph-reveals-his-identity
[1,3-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Je 32:17). Tyndale House Publishers.