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.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
1
God rules over all
'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?' 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?And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
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;Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
We were 'foreordained 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;In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
The worst event in history was also the most planned: Jesus was 'delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God,' and 'whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen'; 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;Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
“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.For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
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.But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
He is not a distant tyrant; He is a Father who cares
Jesus grounds God's sovereignty in love: 'The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don't 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.Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye 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.Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was 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.And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
'All things work together for good for those who love God, to those 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.And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the 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?Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
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;In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own 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?And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the 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.Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.