Trustworthy: Sovereign and Wise

I suppose it is easy to describe trust and say that the character, ability, strength and truth of God are all trustworthy, but when it comes time to consider every aspect of life… we all admit that we have failed to trust God as fully as we should, as fully as we can. We have doubted Him. What that doubt looks like varies for each of us, but there are truths about God that help us stand firm in our belief of Him.

God is sovereign

We hear this word, but it is not one that is easy to understand in today’s society where individual choice seems to reign and leaders spout truths that turn out to be lies and recommendations that are contradicted just a few weeks later. Sovereignty is so radically different from our current home planet, to grasp it we must look beyond.

God is sovereign; he has all authority over any other authority, his power overrides any other. He is literally the King over all kings and the Lord over all lords. His will is what happens. Isaiah 46:9b-10 says, ‘I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’’ There is truly none like Him, all powerful, all knowing of the beginning and even from before as well as the future. Let’s get specific.

He is sovereign over apparent randomness like casting lots (Proverbs 16:33). He is all-powerful over nature, like directing earthquakes (Numbers 16:31-32) and stilling the seas (Matthew 8:26). He is sovereign over the nations of the world (Psalm 47:7-9) and the people who dwell in them. Proverbs 16:9 is always a comfort to me when I feel disconnected from everyone and everything; it says that I am on His path and part of His plan, ‘In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.’

God is wise

It is comforting to me that God is sovereign, but that is perhaps tempered by my knowledge that God is wise, just, and good. It is in wisdom that God utilizes his power and authority. He does not do things at whim, but with wisdom. Proverbs 3:19-20 confirm that God established this earth in wisdom and with understanding of all that it encompasses, ‘By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.’ He knows and established the laws of science that we continue to study, he set them out for us in his wisdom. In His wisdom, He established gravity to keep us tethered to earth; if only it kept us tethered to Him! He even gave Solomon all the wisdom he requested (1 Kings 3:12); God is the source of wisdom.

God is trustworthy

God is trustworthy in all things, sovereign over all and wise in the use of his power and authority. He is sovereign over me and he is sovereign over you. He is sovereign over the covid-19 pandemic. He is sovereign over the locusts of East Africa. He is sovereign over the packages we order online. He is sovereign over the choices of our family. God is sovereign over our kitchen garden growth and the little sparrow doesn’t fall without his knowledge. He holds us all in his hand with wisdom, justice, and goodness. Look for justice and goodness next Monday!