“The Heavens Do Rule!”

Daniel 4:26

Sooner or later God is going to make everyone see and acknowledge what he taught the proud king of Babylon - “THE HEAVENS DO RULE!” You may, in your great depth of imaginary wisdom, presume that you could run this world better than God does. Could not the Almighty easily put an end to sickness, poverty and war, crime and disease, famine, earthquakes and death? Indeed, he could. But God almighty will not be dictated to by us! Who are we to dare set ourselves up as instructors to the all-wise God? He “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”

1. God’s providence is mysterious (Rom. 11:33-36). His judgments are a great deep. His ways are past finding out. But I know this - God always has his way. His ways are not our ways. But his way is always right and best. We simply must not question his will, his ways, or his works.

2. God’s providence is minute (Matt. 10:30). "The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Imagine that! So minute is the providence of God that he, before the world began, numbered and determined the hairs which would be on your head at every stage of your existence, from infancy to the grave! Divine providence is all inclusive! God rules everything, great and small, everywhere, and always! He is in control of all inanimate matter. He who created the world out of nothing, commanded a flood to drown all who lived upon the earth at one time. He divided the waters of the Red Sea with the wind. God caused the earth to swallow up the sons of Korah. He dried up the Jordan river to make a path for his people. He made the fiery furnace a cool fire for his servants. Our God has his way in the whirlwind and everywhere else! Our great God is in total control of all irrational creatures. The flies, frogs, and locusts came and went at the will of God. He prepared a great fish to swallow up his servant Jonah and carry him to Nineveh. He caused an ass to speak to Balaam and a rooster to crow on cue for Peter. “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; his kingdom ruleth over all!” Our God and heavenly Father controls, (absolutely and totally), all rational creatures too. He controls all men and women everywhere, good and bad, in the good they do and in the evil they perform. All angels, all demons, and Satan himself are under the total control of our God. (Psa. 76:10; Isa. 14:24-27). Many have a lot of trouble with this. They do not understand that God truly is God, as fully in control of hell as he is in heaven, as totally in control of wickedness as of righteousness (Prov. 16:4, 33; 21:1; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28).

3. God’s providence is good! “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” All things work together for good to God’s elect eternally, spiritually, and collectively. Whatever God uses to accomplish the salvation of his people is good! At your leisure, read Psalm 107 again. There we are given a detailed view of God’s providence. “All things work together for good.” Our God is King in Heaven. And “the heavens do rule!” That is exactly as it should be.

Grace For Today Radio Message #577

Grace Baptist Church of Danville

2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net