GOD IS SOVEREIGN

God is Sovereign. God “can do anything and no plan of (His) can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

God chose Abraham, a pagan from southern Iraq, to father the Hebrew nation, a chosen people (Genesis 12:1-3). God renewed His sovereign covenant with Isaac. “I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky, I will give your offspring all these lands, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring” (Genesis 26:3-4).

After the death of Sarah, Abraham took another wife: Keturah. “She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s sons were the Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were sons of Keturah.” (Genesis 25:2-4).

Obedient to God’s plan, “Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac” (Genesis 25:5). Isaac, like Jesus, was the “heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2).

And, according to God’s plan, Isaac had two sons, twins, Esau and Jacob. Just prior to their birth, God revealed His plan to Rebekah. “Though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger’ ”(Romans 9:11-13). God’s choice was not based on the deeds of the boys, for they were unborn and had done neither good nor evil.

The Apostle Paul used these stories to demonstrate God’s sovereignty AND man’s free will. God is Sovereign, and yet, Abraham was given a choice. By faith, Abraham obeyed God, leaving his homeland to follow God to the land of Canaan. He was free to decide.

Man must decide to accept or reject God’s free offer of salvation. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved… For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:9–13).

And like the pre-born Jacob, we are granted salvation apart from our deeds. We “are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).