God is Sovereign

I am now reading in the book of Daniel, and particularly, I have been meditating on the Sovereignty of God in regards to my ministry here in Ukraine.  One chapter especially made me think about this.

In chapter 4, Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream about the large tree that was cut down.

²⁴ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king:²⁵ You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenchedwith the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. ²⁶ The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. ²⁷ Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue. ”

²⁸ All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the gloryof my majesty?”

³¹ Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. ³² You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

³³ Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;

    his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 

³⁵ 

All the peoples of the earth

    are regarded as nothing. 

He does as he pleases 

    with the powers of heaven

    and the peoples of the earth.

No one can hold back his hand 

    or say to him: “What have you done?”

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. 

When I read this I was amazed that the king was so proud that it took 7 years of suffering and insanity for him to acknowledge that God is the most high God and He is almighty, giving power to who He wishes to give power to.  I payed special attention to verse 37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

Sometimes, it seems that God allows prideful people to walk around on the earth and do what they please, doing all kinds of evil.  Because of this the children of God may look to their father and say "Please God, humble them so that they may know you!"  I have asked God this question many times about people who I've spoken the Gospel to, yet seen no response in their hearts.

Something this situation in Daniel reminds me of is that God is sovereign.  He has the choice and free will to do as He pleases with anyone.  He chose to let Nebuchadnezzar rule over all the people until one day in the perfect timing, God drive him to insanity for the perfect amount of time it would take for Nebuchadnezzar to come before God, humbled.

"Those who walk in pride, He is able to humble"   God can, and He will (eventually) humble all people before Him.   Romans 14:11 "For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”"

There will be a day when every single person on the earth will know and admit that God is God.  Until then, God will choose who He wishes to humble.  This is indeed even humbling tfor me to hear this!  Only God has the power to change hearts, I don't.  If God allows me to, I can be used as an instrument of His work.  In ministry this is a really good thing for me to remember; God has control, He will choose who He wishes to bring before Him in repentance, so I have no need to worry about whether people will repent or not, God already knows.

Something else that is relevant that I remember: Isaiah 55:10-11

"As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish, 

    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 

¹¹ 

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

    It will not return to me empty, 

but will accomplish what I desire

    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

What have I concluded from all this scripture and studying?
God is sovereign, and He will humble who He chooses to humble for now.  I am only a tool, and I should expect that God will do what He plans with my ministry, and not worry about the results.  God will take care of everything, in the right time.