Is God really in control?
Yes. God rules over all things as sovereign Lord, working all things after the counsel of His will. Nothing happens outside His knowledge or permission, and even rebellion and evil are pressed into the service of His good purposes.
This question arose from studying Why does God allow suffering and evil?.
Begin by reading
Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
God rules over all
'He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; no one can stay his hand or say to him, What have you done?' The final word in the universe is not chance or fate; it is God's sovereign rule.
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stay his hand, or ask him, What are you doing?
But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;
He works all things according to His will
We were 'predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will.' From Him and through Him and to Him are all things; the whole course of history answers to His purpose.
in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
He is sovereign even over evil and the cross
The worst event in history was also the most planned: Jesus was 'delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God,' and 'whatever your hand and your plan predestined to take place'; that took place. Evil is real, but it is never outside God's control and is always within His purpose.
him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
“For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.
He is not a distant tyrant; He is a Father who cares
Jesus grounds God's sovereignty in love: 'Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid.' Not a sparrow falls apart from your Father, and 'you are of more value than many sparrows.' His control over the universe is exercised with a Father's heart for you.
“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
His control is our anchor
'All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.' The sovereignty that can seem frightening becomes our deepest comfort: nothing can finally touch us that is not first passed through the loving, purposeful hand of our Father.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it? Doesn’t evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?
to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stay his hand, or ask him, What are you doing?
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
Worth visiting