Nebuchadnezzar: God, “does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him…” Dan. 4:35.
King David: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” Ps. 115:3
Isaiah: “Only I am God! … Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will happen.” Isa. 46:9-10
Job: Abba, “no purpose of yours can be thwarted” Job 42:2
Heavenly Father, I love quartets—I’m talking the Beatles, the Hobbits, the 4 Presidents on Mt. Rushmore, the 4 Pevensie children in “The Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe”—and I’ll add Led Zeppelin, since Jimmy Page was on my flight to London recently. But these verses from your Word give us a foursome that can rival them all, and they all sing the same song—you are God and we are not. You are Sovereign, not a mere Suggester.
You were sovereign over the pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar—and his madness and narcissism, humbling him to affirm your greatness and glory (Daniel 4:28-37). You were sovereign over King David’s challenged rule, crazy family, and personal failures. You were sovereign over Isaiah’s difficult ministry and the gigantic promises you put in his heart and mouth. You were sovereign over Job’s loses, betrayals, and arrogant friends.
Indeed, no decree, plan, or purpose of yours can be/will be derailed, denied, or delayed. Father. not one, anytime, anywhere. This doesn’t make us puppets, pawns, or robots—but your beloved children. This doesn’t make you an unfeeling, impersonal, source of energy—but the only God worth knowing, loving, worshiping, and trusting.
Abba, you gave Jesus to us and for us—and you gave us to Jesus (Jn.6:39). Certainly we can trust you as we enter this day, pray for our children, own our health challenges, the next US presidential election, and everything else. So VERY Amen.
