Sovereignty

June 21, 2019

“Thus God, The Holy of Israel, Israel’s Maker, says: ‘Do you question who or what I’m making? Are you telling me what I can or cannot do? I made earth, and I created man and woman to live on it. I handcrafted the skies and direct all the constellations in their turnings.'” – Isaiah 45:11-12 (Message)

There is so much in this chapter, but what stands out the most is God’s sovereignty and how we sometimes treat it. I know I am sometimes guilty of acting like I know better than God. Instead of looking at God in all His sovereignty, I sometimes look at Him through the eyes of my humanity. In other words, instead of being made in His image, I make Him in mine. Complete with my thoughts, my plans, my limitations, my strength, and my power. It is not intentional, but it happens, especially when I am desperately trying to make sense of what is going on.

In my efforts to try and make sense of what I think He is doing, I end up overthinking and under listening to Him. He is a personal God who is always speaking, but sometimes I don’t hear Him because I am too busy questioning what He is doing, thinking of a better way to do it, or trying to use my strength to help Him out. Sometimes I behave as if I know better or have a better way. Without intending to, I try to make His thoughts like my thoughts and His ways like my ways and end up making Him too small in my life. In these verses, God is saying that He alone is sovereign over EVERYTHING. We should not look at Him through our own limitations and instead of questioning Him, we need to lean into Him and surrender to what He is doing. This is especially true when we don’t like it, when we don’t agree, when it doesn’t make sense, when we don’t understand, and when we are afraid. He does not need our permission or approval to do anything. What He needs is our obedience.