God's Hand in an Election

27All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

28for dominion belongs to the Lord

and he rules over the nations. (Psalm 22) 

Thoughts: The Bible is clear that God rules the nations (22:23 is only one of many examples of this).  This is the very spiritual idea that God is in control and we are not simply left to our own devices.  The idea is a both and- people freely make decisions, but God molds those decisions into accomplishing His will.  Perhaps we can begin with the idea that if God is really powerful, He should be able to accomplish His will.  Part of our problem is we give ourselves more power and credit than we deserve.  D.L. Moody gives a hint at how God's purposes can be achieved.  He says if we board a ship going from New York to England, we can run around the ship, play shuffleboard, eat, sleep, whatever we want, but the ship will still end up in England. It is a mystery, but God's purposes will be achieved.  This includes working through the decisions and will of sometimes good and sometimes not so good rulers.  For the believer, this should bring some assurance and hope.  So Augustine, in Rome 600+ miles away, orders that each family should return to their patriarchal home town.  This means Joseph and Mary must go to Bethlehem.  This fulfilled a prophecy written 300 years before in Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  So Cyrus declares that all the peoples taken into exile by the Babylonians can go back to their home town- after 70 years.  This fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah (29:10)- and all the people of God (Dan. 9:2) were very aware of this prophecy and its fulfillment.
    Our lives do not begin and end with the Democratic or Republican agenda.  However, if God is in control, our lives should focus on God's agenda- His will.  Belief that God is good is important to faith and trust.  This belief in the goodness combined with the sovereignty of God elicits peace while others are gnashing their teeth over an election outcome.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to grow in trust in your goodness and your sovereignty.  You are a good, good, Father.