God is Sovereign

From the beginning of time, humans have attributed life, death, blessings, and curses to a “god-being” in control. People have naturally sought to please some form of higher power. Today, many people do not believe in God or in His sovereignty. Instead, they believe in chance, fate, or that they have complete control over their own lives. These beliefs remove the responsibility to examine one’s life and to seek God for direction, essentially making people their own god.

If we claim to be disciples of Jesus, we must turn to Scripture and examine the truth found in it. Psalm 103:19–21 says:

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalm 103:19-22 NASB® 1995

“Sovereignty”: Strong’s: The Hebrew word for “Sovereignty” is malkuth (4438): Kingdom, reign, sovereignty, dominion
“Sovereign”: 1 a: one possessing or held to possess supreme political power or sovereignty b: one that exercises supreme authority within a limited - Merriam-Webster

You may think or even believe some of the following statements, but I challenge you to examine Scripture and align your thinking with the Word of God. These statements include “Things just happen,” “What a coincidence,” “Why do bad things happen to good people?” and “We just need to hope bad things don’t happen to us.” And if bad things do happen, people often say or think, “I just hope God will answer my prayers.”

These statements and ways of thinking may seem like good human reasoning, and many people accept them. The problem is that we do not see any of these mindsets taught in Scripture. What we do see throughout Scripture is that God is in control. He is sovereign. He has supreme power and authority. We never see happenstance or coincidence in Scripture, nor do we see things “just happening.” Everything in Scripture shows that God is purposeful. We also see that Satan does not have unchecked authority to do whatever he wants, to whomever he wants.

In Scripture, we see that there are two kingdoms: God’s Kingdom and the kingdom of darkness. We, as humans, choose whom we serve and whose authority we are under by whom we obey. Do we obey God and function in His Kingdom, or do we live and function under the principalities and powers of this dark world? We must understand this in order to understand what happens in our own lives and on this earth. We need to know that there are principalities and powers of darkness of this world, but we do not have to live under their authority. God gives us a choice in whom we serve and whose authority we live under. We also need to understand that even these principalities and powers are subject to God.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 NASB® 1995

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
John 3:5-7 NASB® 1995

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Ephesians 2:1-3 NASB® 1995

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NASB® 1995

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB® 1995

The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:7-12 NASB® 1995

As you read and study Scripture, you will see that God speaks to His friends. He tells them about situations before they happen. Often, He warns people about events in their own lives and in the lives of others. We see warnings given to His children and even to those who practice wickedness. He does not want people to perish or be subjected to the principalities of this dark world. That is the reason He sent His Son to establish a New Covenant, so that humanity could walk under His protection instead of in darkness.

We will look at two stories that demonstrate God’s supreme power and authority. In these accounts, we see His authority in heaven and on earth—over angels and over evil spirits.

Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. In the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. Now the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?” And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.” Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?” The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.” Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed.’” All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.”
Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I shall speak.”
When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and succeed, and the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.” Then the king said to him, “How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?” So he said,
“I saw all Israel
Scattered on the mountains,
Like sheep which have no shepherd.
And the LORD said,
‘These have no master.
Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”
Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. The LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.’ Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you.”
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak to you?” Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide yourself.” Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’” Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people.”
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle. Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.” So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded.” The battle raged that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot. Then a cry passed throughout the army close to sunset, saying, “Every man to his city and every man to his country.”
So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria. They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the LORD which He spoke.
1 Kings 22:1-38 NASB® 1995

This example contains many important truths packed into one situation. We see King Ahab, who practiced wickedness, and King Jehoshaphat, who feared God, join together to go to war. Scripture tells us this should not be the case (2 Corinthians 6:14–18). Jehoshaphat feared God and sought His direction before going to battle. We see that he was persistent in desiring to know God’s will, and because of that persistence, God showed him mercy.

God revealed through His prophet Micaiah what would happen. This knowledge gave Ahab an opportunity to repent, as God warned both men of coming destruction. God tested these men by allowing evil spirits to tempt them into war. Ahab chose to follow his own will instead of the Word of God. We see that they could not run from the Word of God. As this story shows, what God declares will happen will happen, no matter what anyone tries to do.

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NASB® 1995

Even though Jehoshaphat went to war with Ahab and had been told the outcome, God still showed him mercy, while Ahab was killed. In 1 Kings 22:38, everything the Lord spoke concerning Ahab came to pass. In 2 Chronicles 20, we see that God gave Jehoshaphat a strong rebuke for aligning with wicked men.

After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing. So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.
2 Chronicles 20:35-37 NASB® 1995

We must choose whom we are going to align ourselves with. We must learn to test what we are listening to against the Word of God to ensure that we are not being deceived or tempted to sin against God or others. Who we are aligned with determines which kingdom we are walking in. We must learn to test the spirits, as we are instructed in 1 John 4:1. We also need to ask God to show us if we are being deceived.

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
1 John 4:1 ESV

Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Psalm 26:2 NASB® 1995

The next story is about King Hezekiah in 2 Kings.

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.” 7 And Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.”
2 Kings 20:1-7 ESV

The story of King Hezekiah shows God’s mercy in Hezekiah’s life. We know that Hezekiah asked God in faith for healing and for a longer life, or God would not have listened to him. Hezekiah began his life in obedience to God, but in the latter part of his life, he turned away from Him.

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
Psalm 139:16 NASB® 1995

Many other stories in the Bible point to these same truths. We see God speaking to people throughout Scripture. We see Him sending angels, prophets, and prophecies—giving warnings, revealing things to come, and providing direction. God has never stopped speaking to us. The problem is that many people have stopped asking and listening.

We cannot go on assuming that things “just happen” or merely hoping our prayers are heard. If you are an obedient child of God, your prayers are heard. If you question whether your prayers are being heard, seek Him with all your heart and ask Him to show you what He sees in your life that may be causing you to feel this way. He wants us to ask for help. He wants to teach us things we do not know. He wants to talk with us. He wants to be our friend and walk with us. That is the purpose of salvation. That is why He sent Jesus to die—so that He could live and walk in us. When we begin to understand and believe this truth, the Bible will come alive to us.

Here are more Scriptures that speak of His sovereignty.

Daniel said,
“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
“It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
“It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:20-22 NASB® 1995

“This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers
And the decision is a command of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind,
And bestows it on whom He wishes
And sets over it the lowliest of men.”
Daniel 4:17 NASB® 1995

But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
Psalm 115:3 NASB® 1995

For I know that the LORD is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the LORD pleases, He does,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
Who makes lightnings for the rain,
Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.
He smote the firstborn of Egypt,
Both of man and beast.
He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.
He smote many nations
And slew mighty kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
And Og, king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan;
And He gave their land as a heritage,
A heritage to Israel His people.
Your name, O LORD, is everlasting,
Your remembrance, O LORD, throughout all generations.
For the LORD will judge His people
And will have compassion on His servants.
Psalm 135:5-14 NASB® 1995

I will leave you with this verse from Jeremiah 33. I encourage you to stop and ask God to reveal hidden things to you. The next time you need direction, ask Him—do not simply assume that life just happens.

2 “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:2-3 ESV

References:

"Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.”
Strong’s Greek/Hebrew: Biblehub.com
MERRIAM-WEBSTER ONLINE (www.Merriam-Webster.com) copyright © 2012 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.
- “Sovereign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sovereign. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Edited 3/2026
Posted 3/2026