“So now it was not you that sent me thither, but God: and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 45:8
The sovereignty of God, that distinctive quality of His purpose and work, His independent intervention in the affairs of men to bring about HIs will for His glory, is a remarkable subject of study. The beginning of such a study can only begin with the One who has declared Himself to be the Beginning and the Ending, Almighty, forever the same, unalterable, compassionate, gracious and holy God. His wisdom is beyond that of man to understand, not only with regard to the limited capacity of man to grasp the intricateness and complexity of the mind of Christ, but also, to have the power to think those thoughts, His projects and purposes, which are holy because He is holy. So, if man cannot grasp the sovereignty of God, His works beyond comprehension, as He is beyond comprehension, then what benefit is it to man to consider it? The answer lies in the desire and will of God to reveal to man that which he needs to know, that which will be for His benefit, strengthening his faith, and exhorting him to pursue God in Christ that he might be a participant of all that is good in God, to be revealed principally by the love that he might know from God, and communicate to others. The Apostle Paul wrote of this when, in his first letter to the Corinthians, he spoke of “things which God hath prepared for them that love Him,” things which eye had not seen, nor ear heard, nor even had entered into the heart of man. (1 Cor.2:9,10) These things God has chosen to “reveal,” or unveil to the believer by the Spirit, “…that Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Eph. 1:17) Paul goes on to say that the Spirit of God has been given to us, “…that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (v.12) As to the sovereignty of God, the Spirit teaches us things concerning God’s sovereignty which bring us to faith, an increasing faith in the “power of God,” for no one can declare, and then accomplish that which God alone can do.
There are two individuals in the Old Testament which are examples of God’s sovereignty, and its revelation to men. The first of these men is Joseph, the son of Jacob. Here is a young man, who at the age of seventeen, was sold by his brothers into slavery, brought to Egypt, and became a servant in the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. While there he suffered greatly being separated from his family, endured temptation by the wife of Potiphar, suffered unjustly as a result, and put into prison. There he would remain and become a faithful servant of the keeper of the prison, ministering to the prisoners. Joseph remained faithful to God, though he was sorely tried, being brought to singular devotion, and surrender to God alone. God’s hand was upon him, delivering him from the prison, and in one day was made second in authority in all the land of Egypt. The purpose of God, though not understood at the time, was to provide a man who would be used of God to save, not only the Hebrews (Jacob’s family), but to save the Egyptian people. God in His sovereignty, worked to raise up Joseph, a man of faith, to save all.
When Jeremiah the prophet came on the scene of history, we find the Lord God speaking to him concerning His sovereignty. He said: “Before I formed you, I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations.” (Jer. 1:5) God in His sovereignty raised up a man to bring salvation to His people, to give them hope when there was none. God’s sovereignty revealed His infinite mercy.
Dear Father, sovereignly guide us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.