Our God is sovereign - undisputed!

Who's in charge, here?
We may find ourselves wondering about that in the midst of our turbulent world. As believers, though, we know for certain and for sure Who is in charge!
We're going to be reading Genesis 41 this week, so I hope that you will find time to read it and ponder it as we study.....

Human beings are fickle. Didya know that? Changeable must be one of our species names, you know, like human "changeable" beings?
Ask us one week which soccer team we root for, and we may say Manchester. Next  month, we may say we like Liverpool more. Favorite food? Favorite color? How about our favorite movie? Personally, my favorite food changes a lot.... depends on what I'm hungry for at the time, I guess! And since I watch a lot of classic movies (no, I'm talking really classic....like from the 1930's and 40's!) my favorite movie may change, too.
Now, what if I asked what our favorite attribute of God was? I think that might depend a lot on where we are in life, too. We may be at a time when His comfort is important to us, or we may be clinging to His peace in the midst of turmoil. We might be repenting of our sin and His holiness is overwhelming us, or we might be in awe of His majesty.
Knowing that our perspective can change at any time, I think what I keep coming back to is God's sovereignty. He is unchanging. He is in control.
The dictionary says sovereignty is when one "exercises supreme, permanent authority." Pretty good summation -- God is indeed the supreme authority, and it's permanent! Unchanging. He is the undisputed boss -- of the universe! He knows what needs to happen, and He is doing it.

God is not human, that he should lie,    not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?    Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)

“I the Lord do not change." (Malachi 3:6a)

And from the New Testament:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

That's a very familiar (but still amazing) promise, because it shows the depth of His care for us, but also because it points to His being all-knowing, and all-powerful -- how else could He make that promise? He is sovereign. Millions of believers throughout history can assert that it's true.....God has proven His ability to back up that promise over and over again!
What does it mean, in the long run?
Because He is sovereign, and He loves us, nothing can come into our lives that He either has decreed, or that He has allowed. No matter what we are facing, He is the boss!

We see in chapter 41 of Genesis that He is going to come through for Joseph. I think Joseph would have agreed, it's a done deal: God is the boss; He is sovereign.

I love these verses. I come back to them time and again....

“But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?    He does whatever he pleases." (Job 23:13)

“I know that you can do all things;    no purpose of yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:2)

Not one thing can stand in the way of God working in our lives:

Our God is in heaven;    he does whatever pleases him. (Psalm 115:3)

It's undisputed:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!    How unsearchable his judgments,    and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord?    Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God,    that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.    To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

This is Paul, quoting from Isaiah and from Job, in asserting that no one needs to give God advice. No one can know His path; God doesn't need for us to understand or to repay us for anything. Everything is from Him, through Him -- and it's all for His glory!

Your "assignment" is to read the entire chapter, Genesis 41. We'll study more next time!