This past week, Jenny and I were talking about things we had read or were reading in the Word.  She told me she was reading in 2 Kings and had come across the story in chapter 6 where Elisha prays that God will open the eyes of his servant so that he could see the forces of God in place to protect and defend his people.  God does open the eyes of the servant and to his amazement, the opposing Syrian army is surrounded by flaming horses and chariots! You can read the entire story in 2 Kings 6:8-23. 

As a teenager, I distinctly remember a scenario occurring in our home in which the odds were against us and things certainly did not look good. I remember talking with my Mom and her saying, “Remember Elisha and his servant and the chariots of fire?”  I wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but I went and read it and discovered the truth for myself.  In the days ahead, God intervened in our circumstance and whatever the situation, it is not nearly as memorable to me as the truth that God is with his people – even when we can’t see and humanly can’t comprehend how it could possibly be!

This past week we witnessed some shocking events in our country and no matter what side you take on any of these issues politically, there are at times questions, doubt, anxiety, fear, and frustration.  As believers, we must take heart in the knowledge that our God is absolutely in control – even over the affairs of government and government leaders.  Don’t ever forget, God is the governing authority over every government that has ever been, currently is or will ever be! 

Consider briefly:

A king’s heart is like channeled water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses. Proverbs 21:1 (CSB) 

As an example, a foreign, pagan, idolatrous king helps to rebuild the temple for the Jews. Why?  Because the heart of the king is truly in the hand of God!  They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the Lord had made them joyful, having changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them, so that he supported them in the work on the house of the God of Israel. Ezra 6:22 (CSB) 

This issue arises throughout the prophecy of Daniel – note the incredible impact of God over the affairs of these foreign governments!

He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:21 (CSB) NOTE: God has not lost control in our world either!

This word is by decree of the watchers, and the decision is by command from the holy ones. This is so that the living will know that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he wants and sets the lowliest of people over them. Daniel 4:17 (CSB)

He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over human kingdoms and sets anyone he wants over them. Daniel 5:21 (CSB)

Make no mistake about it, our God is in control and he is at work continuing to accomplish his magnificent purposes even through the events of human governments.  Nothing has changed since God said these words in the middle of powerful empires that had been built more than 2500 years ago!

Don’t ever forget the words of the pagan king to whom God showed incredible grace and kindness, even in judgment: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. ³⁵ All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:34b-35 (CSB)

Those words from Nebuchadnezzar remind us that our God is absolutely in control.  He has not lost his way; he is not confused and he is not concerned!  He at work accomplishing his plan.  Trust him, REST in him! 

Paul echoes this truth in the New Testament as well: Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. Romans 13:1 (CSB)

My prayer for each of you, as we continue on with this New Year and the challenges and opportunities it presents us, is that God would open your eyes to understand that those who are with us outnumber those who are with them! 2 Kings 6:16 (CSB) Our God is faithful and he has not forsaken his people, but we must always remember that the Kingdom of God is his first priority – not our kingdom, not America – God’s Kingdom!  That must be our first priority and we must rest in the reality that God is at work in this world accomplishing his great purposes, and we have the privilege to watch as he will do it!

May God give us grace to trust him and rest in his mighty hand in the days ahead.  We don’t know what the future holds, but if we’re honest, we never have! We do not trust God because we know he will handle the affairs of this life and world in a way that aligns with our plan.  We trust because we know that he is at work accomplishing his plan.