The debate about the scope of God’s sovereignty is a historical debate. I am beginning to read a bunch of books by dead theologians and the debate can be summed up to: just how sovereign is God. Well this is not a discussion about this scope; this is more an exhortation to those who agree about this and hopefully encouragement to those who don’t. I will be up front, I agree with those who say that God is 100% sovereign in everything from creation to salvation, to the most minute detail (“the hairs on our head our numbered”) detail of life. I want to explain the peace that comes from such a view of this sovereignty.
Matthew 8:23-2723 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
We all know the story about Christ calming the storm. However, I had never really grasped what was going on. I have read in a few commentaries that these type of storms happened, due to the geography of the area. Storms would blow and capsize boats and it wasn’t unusual for someone to lose their lives if they were caught off guard (many were). As we read this story, Jesus was sleeping like a baby. The storms come and even experienced fisherman who knew about these storms and maybe even navigated through them were afraid for their lives “we are perishing” they said. This was not a hard rain or wind situation, these disciple’s lives flashed before their eyes. They hurry to wake Jesus because of the fear of death. Luke says “the boat was filling with water”. So though Matthew doesn’t mention it, they really were in danger of drowning. Once the boat had sunk it was only a matter of minutes before the current mixed with the storm would overpower them, death was imminent. Marks Gospel records the disciples saying “teacher do you not care that we are perishing” in Mark 4. Jesus arises and says “have you no faith” and calms the storms in the famous “peace be still” verse.
I think this was the first glimpse of God’s complete sovereignty even over the elements. This was a chaotic situation. If the disciples had been alone, they were doomed. They were absolutely helpless, and powerless against such a storm. There was only one thing left, appeal to God. It is funny to me that they were surprised that Jesus calmed the storm, but previous to this they beg Him for help. I wonder if that happens to us. We get in a jam and beg God to intervene and when He does, we are caught by surprise. That is another story all together. One thing is for sure, Jesus wasn’t worried one bit.
So what does that say to us? We are to have the attitude of Jesus when things happen in our lives that are chaotic. We can rest assured, that the cancer, the disobedient children, the loss job, the insurmountable bills and the sick dog are all part of God’s sovereign will and though it is wreaking havoc in our lives, God is faithful. Listen to Paul in Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Paul wrote this while in prison with the possibility of death, nipping at his heels. Paul was convinced that God was totally sovereign and even said in Chapter 1 of the same epistle “what has happened to me is for the advancement of the Gospel”. God’s sovereignty is the only doctrine that can bring peace in a storm. When life is pressing in on us from every angle we can rest assured that God is at the wheel. “All things work for the good”. Many people would say the storm in Matthew 8, Mark 4 and Luke 8 was just chance, but God says in Isaiah 45:
5 I am the Lord, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
7 I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the Lord, who does all these things
What about physical deformities? Try Exodus 4:
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
We have full assurance that any circumstance we find ourselves rather chaotic or calm, that God is in full control, if situations are bad we can appeal to God (Phil 4) if they are good we are to be thankful. But one thing is for sure, we can have peace, because the sovereign hand of God is the Captain of the ship. The situation may not turn out the way we please, but I will leave you with some of the most encouraging scripture written by Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
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