Scriptural Examples of God's Sovereignty in Unbelievers' Lives
God's sovereignty extends over all creation, including the lives of unbelievers, a truth demonstrated through various scriptural examples. This divine power is an attribute of God, described as great, strong, glorious, mighty, everlasting, sovereign, effectual, irresistible, and incomparable [1].
One clear example of God's sovereignty over unbelievers is seen in His judgment. The Lord destroyed those who did not believe after saving a people out of Egypt [6]. Similarly, God overthrew the nation of the Sodomites due to His wrath against their sins [2]. The wrath of God comes upon the children of unbelief [5]. These judgments serve as examples to others [4]. The Bible also describes God's anger as righteous, and its justice is not to be questioned [3].
Even when unbelievers act, God's sovereign plan remains intact. The "god of this world" (Satan) blinds the minds of unbelievers, preventing them from seeing the light of the gospel [9]. However, what the unbelieving world considers foolish and weak—the message of Christ and the cross—is actually wiser and stronger than anything the world offers, solving the problem of sin and overcoming evil [13]. God's righteous government is a source of hope for the pious and terror for the wicked [12].
Furthermore, God's faithfulness persists even when humans are unfaithful. As 2 Timothy 2:13 states, "If we are unbelievers, He remains faithful." God cannot deny Himself, meaning He cannot be unfaithful to His word, even if humans are unfaithful to their profession of faith [10]. This highlights that God's promises are not rendered void by human unbelief; God remains faithful to His promises in all conditions [11].
The Bible also illustrates God's use of unbelievers, or their actions, to fulfill His purposes. For instance, the widespread Jewish tradition held that the "sons of God" in Genesis 6:1-5 (understood as angels) had intercourse with women and were judged by God, serving as an example of judgment [7]. The judgments that befell apostate angels, disobedient Israelites, Sodom and Gomorrah, Balaam, and Korah are "forewritten" as examples of God's eternal character as the Punisher of sin [8]. God is glorified even in the afflictions of the wicked [4].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 1: . How God Overthrew The Nation Of The Sodomites, Out Of His Wrath Against Them For Their Sins.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger of God, The — Averted by Christ -- Lu 2:11,14; Ro 5:9; 2Co 5:18,19; Eph 2:14,17; Col 1:20; 1Th 1:10. Is averted from them that believe -- Joh 3:14-18; Ro 3:25; 5:1. Is averted upon confession of sin and repentance -- Job 33:27,28; Ps 106:43-45; Jer 3:12,13; 18:7,8; 31:18-20; Joe 2:12-14; Lu 15:18-20. Is slow -- Ps 103:8; Isa 48:9; Jon 4:2; Na 1:3. Is righteous -- Ps 58:10,11; La 1:18; Ro 2:6,8; 3:5,6; Re 16:6,7. The justice of, not to be questioned -- Ro 9:18,20,22. Manifested in terrors -- Ex 14:24; Ps 76:6-8; Jer 10:10; La 2:20-22. Manifested in judgments and”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions of the Wicked, The — God is glorified in -- Ex 14:4; Eze 38:22,23. God holds in derision -- Ps 37:13; Pr 1:26,27. Are multiplied -- De 31:17; Job 20:12-18; Ps 32:10. Are continual -- Job 15:20; Ec 2:23; Isa 32:10. Are often sudden -- Ps 73:10; Pr 6:15; Isa 30:13; Re 18:10. Are often judicially sent -- Job 21:17; Ps 107:17; Jer 30:15. Are for examples to others -- Ps 64:7-9; Zep 3:6,7; 1Co 10:5-11; 2Pe 2:6. Are ineffectual of themselves, for their conversion -- Ex 9:30; Isa 9:13; Jer 2:30; Hag 2:17. Their persecution of saints, a cause of -- De 30:7; Ps 55”
- Colossians “Colossians 3:6 (DRC) — For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief.”
- Jude “Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe. -- Jude 1:5”
- 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 2:4: 2:4-10 Three Old Testament examples of judgment show that God will vindicate those who remain faithful to him and will condemn those who deny him, including the false teachers (see 2:3). 2:4 The first example of judgment is the angels who sinned: The widespread Jewish tradition was that “the sons of God” in Gen 6:1-5 (understood as angels) had intercourse with women and were therefore judged by God at that time (see 1 Enoch 6–10; cp. 1 Pet 3:19-20; Jude 1:6). • in gloomy pits of darkness: This description of the underworld was popular in the ancient world and is p”
- Jude (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jude 1:4: certain men--implying disparagement. crept in unawares--stealthily and unlawfully. See on Pe2 2:1, "privily shall bring in damnable heresies." before . . . ordained--Greek, "forewritten," namely, in Peter's prophecy Jde 1:17-18; and in Paul's before that, Ti1 4:1; Ti2 3:1; and by implication in the judgments which overtook the apostate angels. The disobedient Israelites, Sodom and Gomorrah, Balaam and Core, and which are written "for an example" (Jde 1:7, and Jde 1:5-6, Jde 1:11). God's eternal character as the Punisher of sin, as set forth in Scriptu”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 4:4: In whom--Translate, "In whose case." god of this world--The worldly make him their God (Phi 3:19). He is, in fact, "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that ruleth in the children of disobedience" (Eph 2:2). minds--"understandings": "mental perceptions," as in Co2 3:14. them which believe not--the same as "them that are lost" (or "are perishing"). Compare Th2 2:10-12. SOUTH quaintly says, "when the malefactor's eyes are covered, he is not far from his execution" (Est 7:8). Those perishing unbelievers are not merely veiled, but bl”
- 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 2:13: believe not--"If we are unbelievers (literally, 'unfaithful'), He remains faithful" (Deu 7:9-10). The oldest manuscripts read, "For He cannot (it is an impossibility that He should) deny Himself." He cannot be unfaithful to His word that He will deny those who deny Him, though we be not faithful to our profession of faith in Him (Rom 3:3). Three things are impossible to God, to die, to lie, and to be deceived [AUGUSTINE, The Creed, 1.1], (Heb 6:18). This impossibility is not one of infirmity, but of infinite power and majesty. Also, indirectly, comf”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: the Jews to believe in Jesus as the Messiah? If some have not believed, does not that render void God’s promises to his people in the O.T., so that he is no longer bound by them?” ( v. 3 .) The answer is: “No, God is faithful to his promises in all conditions ( v. 4 ). (3) “Then the unbelief of the Jews seems to be the occasion of eliciting God’s faithfulness. The conclusion would be that falseness contributes to God’s glory.” To this Paul gives no specific reply but develops the argument so as to show that it leads to a (5) position: “Let us do evil”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 35:23: (Compare Psa 7:6; Psa 26:1; Th2 1:6). God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the wicked.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 1:25: 1:25 What the unbelieving world considers foolish and weak—Christ and the message of the cross—is in reality wiser and stronger than anything the world has to offer. It solves the world’s greatest problem, the problem of sin, and overcomes all the powers of evil that oppose human beings.”