The Book of Daniel presents a God who is sovereign over the nations. In Daniel 1:1-2, it says, “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand...”
In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Babylon was the world superpower at that time. Nebuchadnezzar, having defeated the Egyptians, aimed to expand his kingdom further, seeking to secure his borders and exercise control over the entire region. Israel’s kings had aligned with Egypt to escape Babylonian oppression, but that strategy failed. In 586 BC, Jerusalem was overthrown, the temple destroyed, and the people were taken captive in Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar’s actions were his own, as seen in verse 1, “King Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and besieged it.” Yet, verse 2 indicates, “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand...” Although Nebuchadnezzar acted according to his own plans, the overthrow of Judah was ultimately the Lord’s doing. The Book of Daniel shows God’s sovereignty over kings and nations repeatedly. Here, God is using King Nebuchadnezzar to fulfill His purpose of bringing judgment on Judah.
This theme of God’s sovereignty is a recurring one in Scripture. To say God is sovereign means He rules over every aspect of the universe at all times. In Daniel, we see God’s rule over Babylon’s conquest of Israel. This sovereignty extends to the establishment of nations, as pronounced upon Noah and his sons in Genesis 9. The Apostle Paul also speaks to this in Acts 17, where he says God “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.” God controls the rise and fall of nations, as well as their borders.
Whether it’s Israel, Babylon, the Roman Empire, or the United States, God is sovereign over the nations. He is also sovereign over the actions of kings and world leaders. In Jeremiah 27, before Israel was taken into exile, God told Jeremiah, “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant...” Here, God calls Nebuchadnezzar “my servant,” not because he was a follower of Yahweh, but because God was using him to accomplish His purposes, unbeknownst to Nebuchadnezzar.
When considering how to remain faithful in a world where believers are “strangers and aliens,” it is crucial to remember God’s sovereignty. Throughout Daniel, God wants His exiled people to understand that their situation is ultimately from His hand. Recognizing that trials and difficulties come from the Lord should be a source of comfort. When we face suffering, it is under God’s control. He is sovereign over every trial, sickness, death, tribulation, and exile.
Some may find the idea that God brings about trials and suffering discouraging. However, understanding that God is good, loves us, and always works for our good allows us to trust Him even in difficulty. Just as a surgeon inflicts pain to remove a cancer and save a life, God lovingly uses trials and difficulty to bring about greater good in the lives of his people.
If life were governed only by random, natural laws, suffering would be meaningless. However, if Jesus is who He says He is, there is hope amid life’s storms. We have the highest purpose—to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This understanding helps us take solace in God’s sovereignty, knowing that life’s difficulties are not the final chapter. God is working all things toward a glorious resolution, where eternal joy awaits in the new creation because of Christ’s work in our lives.
As we experience the hardships of living in this fallen world, we should remember that God is in control of every detail. He is working all things for our good and His glory.
