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Job 12:13–25
“He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them” (v. 23).
We noted yesterday that chance causes nothing, but that it is God who ordains everything that comes to pass, from the greatest events to the smallest. In today’s study, we will consider Scripture’s teaching about God’s role in globe-shaking events, while tomorrow we will look at His involvement in events that easily pass unnoticed.
The sweep of human history has witnessed the rise and fall of great empires that affected the lives of millions of people. Why has this happened? How did some empires get so strong? How did some last for so many years when some rose and fell quickly? Is it simply a case of Darwinism on a grand scale, of the survival of the fittest in geopolitical terms? The Bible answers that every empire, every kingdom, exists only by God’s decree. He establishes kings and dethrones them as He pleases. We see this clearly in the book of Daniel. It tells of King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon, who took great personal pride in his mighty realm, saying, ” ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’ ” (Dan. 4:30). God immediately spoke to him to tell him that by his words he had forfeited his kingdom, and that he would fall into madness and behave like an animal for seven years in order that he might learn that ” ‘the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses’ ” (4:32). And so it happened, until Nebuchadnezzar could say that God ” ‘does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth’ ” (4:35). One of Nebuchadnezzar’s successors had to learn a similar lesson in an even harder way. Belshazzar held a feast for his nobles, and allowed his guests to drink from the gold and silver vessels Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. When they did this sacrilegious act, a hand appeared and wrote on the wall, “Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin,” essentially telling Belshazzar that, because of his sin, his kingdom was finished and God was giving it to the Medes and Persians. That very night, Belshazzar was slain and the empire of Babylon changed hands (Dan. 5).
God stands behind the great events of history. It is He who determines who holds power—emperors, kings, or presidents. In His providence, empires and nations rise and fall.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
One unpleasant implication of the doctrine of providence is that God allows the existence of evil 13 regimes such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. But the fact that God is good provides the assurance that He has wise reasons for ordaining that such regimes flourish. Pray for faith to trust Matthew His providence in the big things.
For Further Study
- Ps. 107:40
- Dan. 2:21
- Luke 1:52
- Rom. 13:1