“Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor.” 1 Kings 22:34
Dear Ones:
One of the ways that God has put before us to enable us to grasp something of His sovereignty in history, is to declare an event years before its accomplishment, and then realize it with extraordinary precision. Such was the case with Ahab, a very wicked king of Israel. Elijah the prophet told him of his death, and how miserable would be his end. It seems that approximately three years later, he died according to the word of the prophet, but in such a way, that only God could have determined it. It would be by an arrow that an enemy soldier simply shot into the air at random. Ahab had his armor on, but there was an opening between two pieces of that armor. There the arrow would lodge, and be the instrument of his death. Because of the king’s wickedness in the slaying of Naboth, an innocent man, Elijah would declare to Ahab that in the same place where the blood of Naboth was spilt, so would Ahab’s blood be licked up by dogs. And so it was. The God of His word, fulfilled His word in His way, thus confirming His resolve and will, His sovereignty.
In the seventh century before the birth of Christ, at the time when the Babylonians besieged, and conquered Jerusalem, leading the people away captive, Jeremiah the prophet spoke of a certain ruler, Cyrus by name, by whom God would begin the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The fulfillment of this prophecy would be accomplished, at a minimum, seventy years later. What do we see here with regard to the sovereignty of God? We see God, in essence, taking a bow, and pulling the string with the arrow back as far as it will go, and then shooting that arrow down the hours, days, and years of time, to hit a point between the pieces of the armor of circumstance, to demonstrate that He, God, is Almighty, Sovereign, and worthy of our praise, worship, and trust.
How does this knowledge of God’s sovereignty apply to us? We see in the two examples already given, that God’s word, or proclamation, sets every circumstance and purpose in motion. His specific word for the moment will be realized in His way, and in His time. If we are to know God, then we must first seek Him, that we might KNOW His will. The second thing we need to understand is that, with the revelation of His will, we are to, by the grace of God, commit ourselves to Him, and to that which He has declared, to believe and wait upon Him for it. Will we understand all the circumstances, His working and timing? Our trust is to be in the absolute trustworthiness of God, not in the shifting sands of circumstance. And lastly, with our position of faith taken, feet firmly planted upon the Rock of His faithfulness according to His word, we are to “…not move,” resolved to believe that “…He will do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24)) David brings these three applications into perspective by writing: “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” (Ps. 37:5) There is a wonderful promise associated with these commandments which applies specifically to the life of the believer: “And He (God) shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” (v.6) God will confirm His word to the heart of the believer, as a testimony of His faithfulness, and then accomplish it.
Dear Father, Teach us Your ways, believing in Your Power and Faithfulness, because You will always work according to what You have declared. Grant us grace to trust You fully, and forever. We thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad