Sovereign God – The Presidential Prayer Team

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord who does all these things. – Isaiah 45:7

God’s creation of human beings with free will, allowing them to love or not to love Him, to obey Him or rebel against Him, indicates that He prefers to receive voluntary relationship and affection. This concept joined with the knowledge of the sovereignty of God makes for a mystery to the human mind. And yet, that is what you see throughout the history of the world. God is in charge even though He permits humanity to make decisions that do not reflect His character and nature.

Isaiah declares in today’s verse that God forms light and darkness; He makes those things that are good, as well as creates calamity. Though some people bring calamities upon themselves through bad decisions, many trials are the result of sin in this world. In the time of Isaiah, Israel was unfaithful to God; their punishment was domination by the Assyrians and then Judah was exiled by the Babylonians. However, God’s plan included Cyrus, an unknown prince who would conquer those who had captured God’s people. Cyrus would allow them to return to their homeland to rebuild Jerusalem.

The redemption of Israel was planned long before they were enslaved. The redemption of the world through Jesus Christ the Lord was also planned from the beginning of time (Genesis 3:15). The plans of the Lord cannot be thwarted – give praise to Him for that!

Seek the Lord, be faithful to His Word, and be bold in your proclamation of the Gospel. Pray for this nation, for officials in public office who need wisdom to do what is right, and for the people to come to know Christ as their Savior. Humbly worship the Sovereign God and submit to His way in your life.

Today’s Verse: Isaiah 45:7

I form light and create darkness;
    I make well-being and create calamity;
    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
    he will bring forth justice to the nations.
²He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
    or make it heard in the street;
³a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
    he will faithfully bring forth justice.
⁴He will not grow faint or be discouraged
    till he has established justice in the earth;
    and the coastlands wait for his law.

⁵Thus says God, the Lord,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
    and spirit to those who walk in it:
⁶“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
    I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
    a light for the nations,
⁷    to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
    from the prison those who sit in darkness.
⁸I am the Lord; that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to carved idols.
⁹Behold, the former things have come to pass,
    and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
    I tell you of them.”