Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un and the Sovereignty of God

Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un and the Sovereignty of God

“For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” – Paul the Apostle, Epistle to the Romans 13:1

President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are two names that immediately bring certain mental pictures and emotions to the forefront of one’s thinking.  Whether you love or hate either of them, very few people have neutral opinions about either.

There are many who believe that President Trump is the worst thing that has ever happened to planet earth, while the 200,000, or so, political prisoners of Kim Jong Un (50-70,000 of which are Christians) would think otherwise.  The atrocities that are perpetrated upon the people of North Korea by their own government under the authority of their leader, Kim Jong Un, are used to keep them in fear and easily managed.  There isn’t any real freedom in North Korea.

On the other hand, there is still a great deal of freedom in the United States as attested to by the many marches and protests against a leader that many do not like.  The contrasts between the two nations are stark.

Regardless of what we may think of Korea’s president, or our own, the fact that God is sovereign means that all authority stems from Him and is under His control.  Yes, Kim Jong Un is under the sovereign God’s control and is, indeed, in his position of power by God’s design.  For God places men and women in positions of authority.  Daniel sang these praises of God’s person and power,

Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.  It is He who changes the times and the epochs; he removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding– Daniel 2:20-21

It is impossible for us as mere mortals to fully understand God’s plans.  And as mere mortals, we cannot possibly comprehend why He allows such evil men to have authority when He knows the evil they will perpetrate on his own people. However, God’s word gives us a really vivid picture of God’s designs for such men.

Pharaoh abused the children of Israel while they were under his care.  He was cruel, harsh and without compassion for them even to the point of killing the newborn male children.  However, he was in his position by God’s design.  Paul explained God’s purposes for putting Pharaoh in his position. Quoting from Exodus 9:16, Paul wrote,

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.’ – Romans 9:17

God’s glory is the primary issue in all that He has done, or will do, since the creation of the world.  God is working His plan, the sole purpose of which is to magnify His glory.  How evil men like Kim Jong Un, or Pharaoh, or Hitler being put into positions of power fits into that plan is incomprehensible to us.  But somehow, they will serve to best magnify the glory of God and each of them received their authority from God’s.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts– Isaiah 55:8-9

Our inability to completely comprehend His works doesn’t give us the right as His creatures to question His sovereignty. Again, Paul addressed this fact,

You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault?  For who resists His will?’ On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it?  Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?– Romans 9:19-21

Despite how our thoughts concerning the president of the United States, or any leader of any nation, we can rest in the fact that God is sovereign over each and every one.  And His righteous plans will all come to pass.

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