Nations may rise with scarcely a thought of God. They delude themselves into believing they have accomplished great things through their own power, political acumen, and foresight. Seldom do they stop to think that God is behind the scene and ultimately controls their destiny.

In God’s unsearchable providence, He establishes world leaders and brings them down. Daniel tells Belshazzar, "O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty." God also brought Nebuchadnezzar down. "He was driven from among men, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of men, and sets over it whom he will" (Daniel 5:21). The same God took Belshazzar’s kingdom, divided it, and gave it to the Medes and Persians.

Ancient Jews rightly believed that God brought up Israel from the land of Egypt, but did they understand that it was also their God who brought "the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir" (Amos 9:7)?

God rules in the affairs of men! He even uses nations to punish other nations (read the book of Habakkuk) and announces some 150 years in advance His selection of "Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him...to open doors" (Isaiah 45:1).

In our own lifetime, we have seen the Lord shake nations and overthrow the throne of kingdoms, while other nations, such as China, seem to rise. To what purpose I know not, but I believe God rules over all and will accomplish with the nations what He desires.

The apostle John reminds us that there is a throne in heaven "with one seated on the throne" (Revelation 4:2)! God rules! I must not forget it, but sometimes I wonder what He is getting ready to do next, and why?

John Gipson