Lesson Four
GOD’S RULE OVER THE NATIONS
(Chapter 5)
CENTRAL IDEA
God is in control of all nations, shaping events and decisions to fulfill His purposes.
Examining Trust
As we trace the sovereignty of God through the Bible, one of the most frequent references to it concerns His sovereignty over nations and governments. God is Lord over all of human history, and He is working out all the details of that history, as Paul said in Ephesians 1:11, “in conformity with the purpose of his will.” That is, God makes all events of history; all the decisions of rulers, kings, and parliaments; and all the actions of their governments, armies, and navies serve His will.
The fact that God is sovereign over our rulers is usually not evident to us as we view their decisions and actions on a human plane. For the most part, governmental officials and legislative bodies do their work quite apart from any intent to carry out the will of God. We see this amply demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken. This required Joseph and Mary to go to the town of Bethlehem to register at just the right time for the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy (see Micah 5:2). Caesar certainly did not intend to be an instrument to fulfill any Jewish prophecy, yet that is exactly what he was.
We should likewise see in those affairs reported in our daily paper the sovereign hand of God just as much as we see it in the Bible. Of course, we don’t have the advantage of the divinely revealed explanation of today’s events, as we do of those recorded in the Bible, but that does not make God’s sovereign rule today any less certain. God recorded in His Word specific instances of His sovereign rule over history in order that we might trust Him in the affairs of history as they unfold before us today.
The Scriptures teach the following specific truths about the sovereignty of God over the nations:
God sometimes causes government leaders or officials to make foolish decisions in order to bring judgment upon a nation. We should take more seriously our responsibility to pray for the leaders of our government that they will make wise decisions. Although we may suspect that some of the more disastrous decisions are evidence of God’s judgment, we do not know that. We do know God has instructed us to pray for leaders. Our duty, then, is to pray for wise decisions, but to trust God when foolish and harmful decisions are made.
As we look around the world today, what do we see? We see over one-half of the world’s population living in countries whose governments are hostile to the gospel, where missionaries are not allowed, and where national Christians are severely hindered from proclaiming Christ. As we look at these conditions we must also look at the sovereignty of God and at His promises. He has promised to redeem people from every nation, and He has commanded us to make disciples of all nations. We must, then, trust God by praying. Some will go to those nations as God opens doors, but all of us must pray. We must learn to trust God, not only in the adverse circumstances of our individual lives, but also in the adverse circumstances of the church as a whole.
God is sovereign over the nations. He is sovereign over the officials of our own government in all their actions as they affect us directly. He is sovereign over the officials of government in lands where our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer for their faith in Him. And He is sovereign over the nations where every attempt is made to stamp out true Christianity. In all of these areas, we can and must trust God.
1. There are many events that took place during the life of Jesus that show how government officials, acting freely, fulfilled the purposes of God. Fill in the following chart.
Scripture
Name of ruler
Official action
Prophecy fulfilled
Matt 2:13-16 (cf. Hosea 11:1)
Matt 2:17-18 (cf. Jer 31:15)
Matt 2:21-23 (cf. Isa 9:1)
Luke 2:1-4 (cf. Micah 5:2)
Acts 4:27-28 (cf. Isa 53:3-6)
2. What truths are taught about governments and rulers in the following verses?
Proverbs 16:9, 33
Proverbs 21:31
Isaiah 40:22-24
Daniel 4:31-32
Romans 13:1-4
3. What responsibilities do we have toward our government?
Romans 13:1-7
1 Timothy 2:1-4
4. a. Describe a time in your life when a governmental decision had an effect on your life (for example, military draft, new tax laws, or zoning regulation).
b. How did you see God’s hand in the events at the time?
c. From your present perspective, what do you think God was doing in that situation?
5. a. Read 2 Samuel 15:1-16 and 16:20–17:14. Why did God want Absalom to follow Hushai’s advice?
b. What might be God’s purpose in allowing rulers to make foolish decisions?
c. Does God protect His people from the consequences of these poor decisions? Why or why not?
6. According to Daniel 9:1-19, what was Daniel’s response when he realized Israel’s exile in Babylon was almost over?
7. a. What is promised in the following verses?
Matthew 28:18-20
Revelation 7:9-10
b. How can you respond to these promises?
8. a. What are your general thoughts about the present world situation?
b. Did the truths in this chapter change your perspective on current events? If so, how?
Trust in Action