Where it does not, even then the sovereignty of God is often denied because it does not appear compatible with the doctrine of free will. And where the choice is between believing in God's sovereignty or our free will, free will is usually chosen. It is the easier of the two to understand, and the easier to accept.

     Granting that it is not easy to harmonize God's sovereignty and our free will, we must never as a result of confusion cast away an attribute of God that is basic to God's relationship to His creations. When the veil of unknowable clouds our understanding, we are always better to discard an attribute of the created rather than one of the Creator. Discretion is not only the better part of valor, but also of wisdom.

     The word "sovereign" means "supremacy of authority or rule." Whoever is sovereign is in control of all things and governs all things. For human rulers, sovereignty is partial because of human limitations. For God, sovereignty is absolute because of His omnipresence and infinitude. Wherever anything is, there is God and the infinity of His nature. And wherever God is, He is God, ruling and controlling every minutia of creation. Nothings happens outside His will.

     "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:29-30)

     Inherent in the definition of sovereign is the freedom to rule; to do whatever one wants to do in whatever manner, time, place. Whoever is sovereign must be absolutely free to act. If there is any area in which total freedom of action is not possible, then in that area the individual is not sovereign. If anything limits the authority or action, the rule is less than sovereign.

     For human rulers, freedom to rule is always limited by a number of factors, even for dictators. God alone is absolutely free to act as He will. It is an essential part of His Godhead.

    If there is any area in which God is not free to do whatever He wills, then in that area He is not God; someone else is. But there cannot be two who are sovereign in God's creation. If there are, they will eventually collide. Only one will can be supreme: God's.

     Inherent, also, in the definition of sovereign is the power to enforce the supremacy of authority. Whoever is sovereign must have more power than anyone else. And that power must be greater in all areas, for in any area that it was not greater the ruler would not be sovereign. Absolute freedom and power are two essential ingredients of absolute sovereignty. And only the Almighty Jehovah God contains an infinitude of both.

     For many Christians today, God's sovereignty seems to be at question in their theology—if they have any—but in the Scriptures it never is. Nor was it to God's people in Biblical days. They knew they were totally in God's hands for Him to do with them what He wanted to do, when He wanted to, and how He wanted to. He controlled the powers of the universe, the forces of nature, and the fortunes of men and women. And for every thought, word, and deed in their lives, they were answerable to Him! We have but to explore the writings of the prophets to read not only their testimony of God's sovereignty, but His declaration of it.

     The LORD kills and makes alive;
     He brings down to the grave and brings up.
     The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
     He brings low and lifts up.

     He raises the poor from the dust
     And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
     To set them among princes
     And make them inherit the throne of glory.

     For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
     And He has set the world upon them.
     He will guard the feet of His saints,
     But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

     For by strength no man shall prevail.
     The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;
     From heaven He will thunder against them.
     The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

      He will give strength to His king,
     And exalt the horn [strength] of His anointed. (1 Samuel 2:6-10)

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