There are several powerful and influential people in the world. Global crises face us and leaders try to intervene. President Trump exerts a lot of influence, but President Putin is a force to be reckoned with. Recent peace talks about Ukraine seem to have reached stalemate. Many people are worried. Who is in control?

The simple answer is that nobody on earth is actually in control. The God of heaven is in control. But this requires some explanation.

The fact that God is in control most certainly does not mean that He orchestrates everything and that we are all puppets or robots. We have choice. Nor does it mean that He approves of everything that we do. For example, God did not control king David to commit adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). And God was not pleased. The record simply says:

But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD

verse 27

And then the prophet Nathan described to David the enormity of what he had done, and the implications for him (2 Samuel 12:7-14).

On other occasions, however, God does prevent people from sinning. He protected Sarah, Abraham’s wife, from being seduced by Abimelech. God said to him,
…it was I who kept you from sinning against Me. Therefore I did not let you touch her (Genesis 20:6).

Even so, we can never know when we will be able to carry out our plans, let alone whether they will succeed.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand

Proverbs 19:21

Without doubt, nothing is too hard for God. He posed the rhetorical question:

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

Jeremiah 32:27

But God always does what is right: He will never go against His perfect moral standards (Deuteronomy 32:4).

He has a purpose for the earth. He has a plan of salvation for men and women who try to obey Him. And absolutely nothing can thwart Him.
…so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

To this end He controls world affairs in ways that we do not and cannot comprehend. He ensures that the rulers are who He wants.

…the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men

Daniel 4:17

By implication, He oversees major political decisions.

True, there are wicked people and awful things happen. God does not always intervene. But He is still ‘in control’. There is no opposing force like Satan or the Devil with evil power. There is no single example in the Bible where God is not in control.

The faithful will be saved. They may suffer wrong in this life, but their salvation is guaranteed. While they are not protected from all physical harm (Luke 21:12), God does protect them. Paul reassured believers in Corinth:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it .

1 Corinthians 10:13

So, we should not fear what world leaders do. We should fear and serve God. For no human being has been, or ever will be, in control. The God of heaven is in control, and our allegiance must be to Him.