6 Hope-Inspiring Sovereignty of God Scriptures

The Book of Exodus has always been an exciting book to me. God reveals Himself and His mighty power in such miraculous ways defying the laws of nature over and over. God shows Himself very real to His people in order to leave no doubt that He is their God.

When God calls Moses to go and deliver His people from bondage in Egypt, God tells Moses His name…I AM.

God is sovereign scriptures tell us. But this name of God says it all!

I love all that this name, I AM, signifies about God and Who He is. Self-existent. Eternal. All-powerful. These three words describe the definition of sovereignty of God. And tell us that our God is Sovereign over all things! He is supreme ruler!

And that is such a comforting truth for us. Here are six sovereignty of God scriptures that inspire hope for our lives here on earth. Plus a beautiful Freebie!

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What Is God Sovereign Over?

In the Book of Exodus, the Lord powerfully and miraculously illustrates for us His Sovereign reign over all His creation. 

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. 

Psalms 103:19

God is sovereign Bible verses clearly show. God is supreme ruler over…

All of nature—

• Animals (Exodus 8:20-24 16:8,13)

• Weather (Exodus 9:18,26,29)

• Light, sun, moon, and stars (Exodus 10:20-21,23)

All of life—

• Sickness and healing (Exodus 9:10)

• Food and water supplies (Exodus 16:8,12-13,20 20:24 17:6)

• Life and death (Exodus 12:23)

The hearts of men—

• Rulers of the world (Exodus 9:16 10:1-2)

• Our enemies (Exodus 15:6-9 14:25,17,4,8 18:4 12:51)

• Anyone (Exodus 11:3 12:35-36)

Sovereignty of God Scriptures That Bring Hope

In talking with others about God over the years, I’ve heard three particular questions concerning God’s sovereignty. I’d like to share those here along with the hope-inspiring sovereignty of God scriptures that I believe answer these questions.

1) Exodus 32:11-14

Question #1: Since God is sovereign and controls all things, then why pray?

And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people,…Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest…And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. 

Exodus 32:11-14

Prayer and God’s sovereignty—we are to believe in both. God answers our prayers within God’s sovereign will.

Think about it, if God answered every one of our prayers, just because we prayed it, then we would be sovereign. God would be ruled by what we said or asked of Him.

But then, if He didn’t ever answer our prayers then there would be no use in praying. “Que Sera Sera…whatever will be, will be.”

God always knows what He will do. But He also listens to our prayers. And when it is within His will to do so, He will do whatever is necessary…even change His predetermined course of action…in order to answer our prayer! Amazing!

For example, God knew, of course, that Moses would beseech Him to not destroy the Israelites for their rebellion and idol worship of the golden calf. (Exodus 32:7-14)  But had Moses not intervened in intercessory prayer, God would have continued on His course of action. God does not lie. Ever! (Titus 1:2) He would have destroyed them…as He had said.

But He listened to Moses and changed His course of action!

2) Luke 1:37

Our hope?

Prayer changes things…because God is sovereign and has the power to do absolutely anything necessary to answer His children’s prayers! Even change His mind!

For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

Luke 1:37

So, pray with all faith in your Sovereign Lord!

3) Ephesians 2:10

Question #2: Since man can only do right with the help of the Holy Spirit influencing his/her heart, then if man doesn’t make the right choice, isn’t it God’s fault?

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

God’s plan for man, for each man, has been established in heaven in eternity past. (Ephesians 2:10) And God knows the end from the beginning. Our choices don’t cause God’s sovereign plans to change, according to those choices. Our choices don’t guide God’s plan this way and that.

Free will and God’s sovereignty—we believe in both. God doesn’t control our choices. He does give us free will…but in the context of His sovereign plan for His world and all that are in it.

Our choices don’t guide God’s plan this way and that.

And sometimes God in His mercy, and because of His will in a matter, will restrain man from doing evil, making a bad choice. (For example, Abimelech in Genesis 20:6)

4) Genesis 20:6

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Genesis 20:6

You might ask, “But if a man who isn’t restrained by God, makes the wrong choice, isn’t it God’s fault? Since God could have restrained him?”

The answer is No.

Man’s sin is still his own fault…for not yielding to the Spirit. The Spirit shows us right and wrong. If a man doesn’t follow that leading, that help and discernment to do right, it is not God’s fault.

However, when it is God’s will to do so, He will in His mercy, cause His Spirit to be very persuasive to us that we make His choice He wants made. Or, to accomplish His will, He will use others He can trust and knows will make the correct choice.

God knew man and each of our choices, and what He would do, from before the world began.

So, God does not cause anyone to choose wrong. He does not tempt anyone with sin. (James 1:13) But God may sometimes just withhold any help to choose right. Pharaoh is such an example—when God told him through Moses to let the people go.

Pharaoh was accountable to God for his choice to harden his own heart repeatedly before God ever effectually said, “Enough” and hardened Pharaoh’s heart beyond repair, beyond repentance.

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. Exodus 5:2 (See also Exodus 8:32, 9:12)

Pharaoh’s rejection of God is certainly not God’s fault. God had shown Pharaoh many miracles that none of us have ever seen! Yet Pharaoh refused to humble himself and believe. NOT God’s fault!

Our hope?

God has the sovereign ability to work in our hearts to help us do right.

He also many times protects us and guides our lives by influencing the hearts of others in their choices that will affect our lives! We can rest knowing that God is ultimately in control of our life…NOT the choices of others!

5) 2 Thessalonians 2:7

Question #3: Since God is sovereign and could stop bad things from happening, then how is He still good, since He does allow bad things?

God is good and made the world good.

Man’s, and woman’s, great contribution to God’s perfect creation was sin. And thereby the entrance into it of evil and pain and death and destruction. All of that is man’s fault because of our disobedience to God’s command in the garden of Eden.

Evil in the world. Again, NOT God’s fault.

However, God in His goodness uses His sovereign power to hold back the forces of evil, through the Holy Spirit’s presence on earth, to keep them from harming and ultimately destroying us and His world.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2 Thessalonians 2:7

The word “let” here means to restrain. When Jesus comes back for His bride, the church, at the rapture, the Holy Spirit will take His hand off and let Satan have his way. That time is known as the 7-year Great Tribulation period.

So, far from blaming God for not holding back ALL the bad in the world, we should be praising His name from the rooftops for holding back much of it! And for staying with us in this mess of a world we’ve made and helping us through it. Day after day. (Hebrews 13:5b)

It is such a wonder to me that God doesn’t give up on us His children and on this world that He made.

Our hope?

God in His goodness uses His sovereign power to deliver, to help, and to give us hope in the midst of this sin-cursed world! Just as He did for Israel throughout the Exodus! 

Luke 1:37 is one of my favorite sovereignty of God scriptures. Enjoy this Free computer wallpaper and be reminded that prayer changes things!

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6) Psalms 47:7

For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. 

Psalms 47:7

I have enjoyed reading the Book of Exodus and imagining the sovereign power of God displayed for all to see.

• The ten plagues!  
• The parting of the Red Sea!  
• Water coming from a rock!  
• God’s voice from the heavens!

Oh, the wonder of God’s deliverance of His people from slavery…the display of His goodness to a people that, as a whole, had disregarded Him!

Yes, God is good.  And He is good ALL the time!

I pray that these Bible verses have helped you in understanding the sovereignty of God.

What a wonder our God is! Won’t you sing His praises today!

 And keep drawing nigh to Him,

Teresa

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

What other question do you have about God’s sovereignty?  What was your favorite part of the Book of Exodus?

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