God is in Control

I was listening to Psalm 105 (New Living Translation) this morning, and it struck me how "in control" it showed God to be. Take a look at that chapter, and consider this:

·         He made a covenant with Abraham, and confirmed it with Jacob.
·         He did not let one nation oppress them when they were few in number.
·         He warned kings on their behalf, "Do not touch these people I have chosen."
·         He called for a famine in the land of Canaan.
·         He sent Joseph to Egypt and tested his character, then exalted him over all of Egypt.
·         He brought the whole house of Israel to Egypt so Joseph could provide for them.
·         He multiplied them as a nation there, until they became too mighty for their enemies.
·         He turned the Egyptians against the Israelites.
·         He sent Moses and Aaron to do miracles in the Egypt.
·         He blanketed Egypt in darkness when they would not let His peoples.
·         He sent all the plagues of Egypt because Egypt defied him.
·         He killed the oldest child in each Egyptian home.
·         He brought His people safely out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold, and there were no sick or feeble among them.
·         He spread out a cloud above them as a covering.
·         He gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
·         He sent them quail when they asked for meat.
·         He gave them bread from heaven.
·         He opened up a rock, and water gushed out.
·         He brought His people out of Egypt with joy.
·         He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops others had planted.

If you know the story of Israel's Exodus from Egypt, you might already be familiar with the deliverance God provided, and the guidance through forty years of wilderness wandering, preparing them as a nation to serve Him and obey Him. God doesn't do things arbitrarily; everything He does is done with purpose.

Sometimes I think we get so focused on what God "allows" that we don't stop to consider what God actually "does" Himself. From our perspective it might be questionable, but faith tells us God knows exactly what He's doing. He is all-powerful; He is all-knowing; He is everywhere present all the time! We serve a great and mighty God, and He is always in control.