October 28, 2006

90 Seconds of Middle East History

Lest we forget that God is sovereign over these empires of history, the following Biblical texts demonstrate his all-wise decrees and providence. May this historical-theological truth give us hope in the certainty of God's future kingdom.

"Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" Lamentations 3:37-38

"…When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?" Amos 3:6

Even the pagan ruler Nebuchadnezzar recognized God's absolute sovereignty when he said, "[God] does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What are you doing?'" Daniel 4:35

"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21:1

Charles Spurgeon's answer to those who object to God's sovereignty by simply saying it is "fatalism," responded,

What is fate? Fate is this – Whatever is, must be. But there is a difference between that and Providence. Providence says, Whatever God ordains, must be; but the wisdom of God never ordains anything without a purpose. Everything in this world is working for some great end. Fate does not say that. . . . There is all the difference between fate and Providence that there is between a man with good eyes and a blind man.

"The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name." Zech. 14:9

(ht: Maps-of-War)