A Reminder That God is Sovereign

I enjoyed watching today's election coverage and I'm not even a democrat. I enjoyed it because I knew God's will was being done.

It really bothers me when I hear Christians from both parties compain about who is President. It was talk about how Bush was the worst president we've ever had, and now it is doom and gloom for fear of how Obama is going to govern. Instead of remembering that God is sovereign over his creation, we act as if God will now have to amend his plans because the American people threw him a curve ball. According to the Bible this is just not the case at all.

Romans 13:1 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

George Bush was president for 8 years because that's who God wanted to be in power. Obama was just elected the 44th President because that is who God currently wants to lead the United States. "How can that be?" one might ask, "Bush led us into a unnecessary war", or "Obama supports abortion rights". Why does God allow things that may seem bad for us, or leaders that we don't think are the right choice, to happen?  The Bible gives us plenty of examples:

Look at the story of Joseph in Genesis. Joseph was hated by his brothers, almost killed, sold into slavery, accused of rape, thrown into jail, left in jail after a released friend forgot about him, until finally being released from jail after interpreting a dream (therefore saving the people of Egypt from a famine) and promoted to the second highest position in Egypt. When his brothers saw him again about 20 years later, they fell on their faces fearful of the payback they would get from their now powerful brother. What was Joseph's response? "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." God allowed over 20 years of evil to happen against Joseph, so that in the end, God's good will would be done.

Look what the Bible says about Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylon king who destroyed Jerusalem and took the Isrealites as slaves: Jeremiah 27:6 God says, “Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant.” Nebuchandnezzar God's servant? I'm sure Nebuchandnezzar didn't think he was, and I'm pretty sure Daniel and his friends were pretty confused at first, but when you read the whole story of Daniel, you see God's hand at work.

What about Pilate, the Roman governor who sentenced Jesus to death? Look at what he says to Jesus in John 19: "Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?". Jesus replys, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above”. God let a Roman governor be in power who allowed the death of Jesus. I'm glad he did. Because by God allowing the worse sin ever commited to take place, the death of his Son, God provided a way for salvation to sinful mankind.

So it hasn't bothered me at all the past 8 years that Bush has been president, and it doesn't bother me at all that Obama is now president. Daniel 2:21, “[God] removes kings and sets up kings”. I don't know why God put Obama in power, (or other leaders of this world for that matter), but God does, and he is 100% in control of his creation. And knowing that gives me peace.