Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen…”
This month, our daily study will be packed Scripture demonstrating and confirming God’s sovereignty over His creation. It is easy to forget that we are such a small part of His creation, and yet He knows everything about us and cares as much for each individual as He does another. Luke 12:7: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Psalms is overflowing with praise and acknowledgement that God is Lord over all creation. Not only that, but this book contains many songs that use nature and creation when glorifying Him. “Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep” (Ps. 36:5–6). While many of the Psalms remind us of what a small, temporary part of creation we are (Ps. 37:20), it also reminds us of how important we are to God (Ps. 37:7), telling us to wait patiently on Him to carry out His sovereign will for us. Psalm 46 encourages us that we don’t need to fear, even in troubling times (vs. 1–3). “How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! . . . for the kings of the earth belong to God” (Ps. 47:2, 9b). There is a bigger picture, and God already knows it all!
This month’s Old Testament reading is abundant in men who acknowledged God as Lord over their lives––sometimes in the midst of the most difficult trials and pain. Job was such a man of integrity, refusing to curse God, even in the middle of unbearable pain and torment, and very unsupportive friends. It amazes me that even though we know from the first few verses of Job that he is being used by God as an incredible example to Satan, Job himself does not know it! And still he remains faithful to God! Job 27:3–6: “as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit. I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.”
Jeremiah is another Old Testament character who is forced to rely on God’s authority amid trials. “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jer. 27:3–6).
One of our more well-known Bible characters, David, enters our reading this month––a man after God’s own heart. From fighting a giant (1 Sam. 17) to running for his life from a jealous king, he continually relied on God and inquired of the Lord. Not only that, but he gives God the glory, instead of trying to take it for himself. 1 Samuel 17:46: “ ‘…and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.’”
Moses was a man who also chose to follow God’s will for his life, giving up his place in the Egyptian palace to wander and lead a group of people through the wilderness. Not only that, but he was up against someone who had no regard for the God of Israel––Pharaoh. But even though Pharaoh did not consider God’s power and authority “Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go’” (Ex. 5:2), God was still sovereign––even over Pharaoh’s own heart! It is mentioned numerous times in Exodus that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 7:3–4; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10). He is sovereign even over those who disobey Him and show Him no regard. God’s purpose? “That [He] might show [us His] power and that [His] name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Ex. 9:16).
Of course, the New Testament is also filled with God’s sovereignty, often demonstrated by His Son. Mark writes of many miracles that Jesus performed, all showing His power and authority. Paul tells us in Corinthians that we have access to this incredible power through the Holy Spirit. “Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). It is awesome to consider that even though we are not walking around on earth with Jesus, we could not be any closer to Him, as believers, because of His gift of the Holy Spirit living in us.
As you read through this month’s study, I encourage you to meditate on God’s sovereignty over His creation. He is ultimately in control of everything, and nothing can surprise Him or catch Him off-guard. He is able to make all things work for good (Romans 8:28), and He has a plan for all of it, and for all of us. Pray that His plan for you will be revealed in your life and that you will be open to it.
By Lisa Grimenstein
Suggested Reading for April
APR 1 Ps 36-38
APR 2 Job 25-26
APR 3 Jer 1-6
APR 4 Mark 5-6
APR 5 1 Cor 11-12
APR 6 Ex 1-4
APR 7 1 Sam 16-20
APR 8 Ps 39-41
APR 9 Job 27-28
APR 10 Jer 7-11
APR 11 Mark 7-8
APR 12 1 Cor 13-14
APR 13 Ex 5-8
APR 14 1 Sam 21-25
APR 15 Ps 42-44
APR 16 Job 29-30
APR 17 Jer 12-16
APR 18 Mark 9-10
APR 19 1 Cor 15-16
APR 20 Ex 9-12
APR 21 1 Sam 26-31
APR 22 Ps 45-47
APR 23 Job 31-32
APR 24 Jer 17-21
APR 25 Mark 11-12
APR 26 2 Cor 1-3
APR 27 Ex 13-16
APR 28 2 Sam 1-4
APR 29 Ps 48-50
APR 30 Job 33-34
This year’s Bible reading plan was borrowed from BibleReading.com. (To correspond with the 2009 year, we have included actual dates for your referral. You may choose to use the above site, instead.)
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