Every day we make multiple decisions. We are given free will to make our own way and choose the things we want. For example, I chose to hit the snooze button when the alarm clock went off this morning. I had oatmeal instead of bacon and eggs for breakfast. I put on brown pants and a sweater. I did not want to shave but I chose to brush my teeth. You get the point.
On this planet there are billions of individual wills who have this same capacity. People acting on their own behalf, governments with interests and etiologies driving their decisions. Religion influences and dictates behavior on a global scale.
There are unseen forces such as Satan and his followers, the fallen angels. God has His angels acting on His behalf. Needless to say, there are billions of entities trying to exert their free will into affairs on earth. Some have chosen sides for either good or evil. Some have not chosen sides and just drift. Despite all of these wills pulling in all different directions, God is in control. No matter what any one does, God’s plan for history will not be thwarted. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
God does whatever He pleases (Psalm 135:6). God is the single supreme ruler of the universe. He exerts His will over and towards nature; see the global flood in Genesis. He is in charge over man (1 Samuel 2:6-8).
God directs the course of history (Psalm 115:1-3, 135-5-12). Satan is under the will of God (Job 1:6-12, 2 Corinthians 12:7). God is sovereign over sin (Acts 4:26-28, 7:9; Genesis 45:5-8).
Excerpts taken from Systematic Theology, The Doctrine of God, Chester McCalley.
God is also in control over the nations. For example, God chose Israel as His people. Romans 9:11 tells us that God chose Jacob (Israel) over Esau in order that His purpose might stand. It was His choice. He chose Israel not because they are better than other nations; or not because they are larger or smaller. It was not because they (Israel) are good. Israel did not earn their selection. It was His choice and purpose.
This is taken a step further. God states, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse (Genesis 12:3). A nation’s course of history is determined by their interaction and response toward nation Israel. The Old Testament is full of examples of God’s judgment toward the enemies of Israel. Likewise, nations who show favor towards Israel are blessed.
In Psalm 2, God makes it perfectly clear who is in charge. After He laughs and scoffs at the nations, it is stated that He (Jesus) will rule with a rod of iron and shatter them (the nations) like clay pots. A warning has been issued and homage to the Son is expected.
Now just because God’s will is supreme, this does not mean that individuals do not have choices. Suppose we did not have the freedom to make choices. Without free will, would there be a need for commandments? NO! We were not created to be mindless robots or taskmasters of an all powerful God. Commandments were written by God to appeal to our sense of volition. We can choose to obey just as well as we can choose to disobey. With choice comes responsibility and consequences to a just God.
