The Will Of God

A review of history reveals the efforts of men and women to overthrow the will of God.  Consider, for example, the efforts of Adolf Hitler in Europe during World War II.  He attempted, among other things, control of the world under German rule, a worldwide empire.  He sought to bring this about by force.  Yet had Hitler consulted the Bible, he would have found that no such undertaking would prove fruitful.  God, through Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, clearly stated no world wide earthly empire would rule the earth after the fall of Rome.  Consider what Daniel recorded concerning events during the Roman Empire:

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure (Daniel 2:44,45).

Notice the kingdom established during the Roman’s rule (legs of iron and feet of iron and clay), would “break in pieces and consume” the previous kingdoms (Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman) and the newly created kingdom would forever stand and not be left to other kingdoms as were the four mentioned above.

The kingdom promised in Daniel is the one Jesus was raised from the dead to reign over (Acts 2:22-32; John 18:36); it is the church.  Any effort by mankind to replace as the universal kingdom on earth will fail.  All the pain, suffering, and bloodshed caused by World War II could have been avoided if Hitler had known and not tried to defeat the will of God.

From biblical history there are numerous examples, but consider this one.  Pharaoh tried to overturn the will of God eleven times.  It brought ten plagues directed at the gods of Egypt and Pharaoh showing him who was in control, and then the destruction of Egypt’s army.  The reason he tried to defeat God’s will?  He did not want to lose his slave labor. The result of his defiance?  A devastated country, the death of all first born among man and beast, his army destroyed, and his life lost.

Some today attempt the overturning of God’s will.  They will also fail. But how much pain, suffering, devastation, and death will result?  What can we do?  Teach people about God, His will, the benefits of submission, and the tragic consequences of opposition.

—Denny