God is omniscient or “all-knowing.” I mean, for God to be sovereign over His creation, whether visible or invisible, He has to be all-knowing. His omniscience is also not restricted to any one person in the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all by nature omniscient.
God is also omnipotent – “all-powerful.” He has all power over all things at all times and in all ways. Job spoke of God’s power in Job 42:2: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.” Job is acknowledging God’s omnipotence in carrying out His plans. Likewise, Moses, was reminded by God that He had all power to complete His purposes regarding the Israelites: “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true” (Numbers 11:23)!
So, if God is all-knowing and all-powerful, then He knows about everything that happens in this world. In fact, all things were either caused by Him or allowed by Him. Why remind us of all this? Well, we just had an election, didn’t we? And the results may not be what we were hoping for. Many of us are left wondering, what happened? God happened. Whether or not we agree, God caused or allowed the election to turn out the way it did. He is sovereign. All-powerful.
Now, this does not mean He approves of or endorses the winner. He allowed the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah to have forty kings between them. Out of the forty only eight were obedient and faithful. Why did He allow thirty-two lousy leaders? God then causes first Assyria and then Babylon to conquer Israel and Judah. Why?
Well, He was discipling His disobedient children. They were rejecting Him. Worshiping pagan idols including sacrificing children to the Canaanite god Molech. So, sometimes God allows things to happen as consequences for sin.
Are our newly elected leaders like one of the eight good kings or punishment for our nation’s unfaithfulness? I don’t know. God does. What we know is that the Bible says, “For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority – whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14). Without government there would be utter chaos. We have only to look south to our friends in Haiti to see the truth in that.
So, the outcome of our election. Either God is answering prayer, or we are being disciplined because we have not yet learned our lesson. Only time will tell. Whichever it is, there is always hope. As God said to Solomon when things when from bad to worse, “…if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
As hard as it may be to accept that things may not have gone our way in this election, we just need to trust Him. Regardless of who won, God is still in charge. He is sovereign. As God said to Isaiah, “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish” (Isaiah 46:10). I leave the outcome of elections to the LORD. My job is to humble myself, pray, seek His face and turn from my wicked ways.
What will happen at the next election? I don’t know. Actually, I do. God’s will – will be done.
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