The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

.... He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations (Psalm 33:10, 11).  For many of us, our God is too small, I mean what we think about Him, not the reality! God is the One who spoke and at His Word stars were flung into space.  But God is Sovereign, meaning He has the power, wisdom, and authority to do anything He chooses.  Paul,  at a time when the world suffered under Roman rule,  could say “He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” (Acts 17:26).  It is not just the nations, it's “the plans of the peoples.” Proverbs 16:9 reads “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps,” often overruling the plans. You likely have experienced this yourself. I know I have!

Down through the ages mankind has puzzled why God allows what He allows. Following on from Paul's words above he tells us “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (verse 27). Habakkuk was deeply grieved at the destruction of war and the cruelty of man. He confronted God standing watch to see what He would answer him (Habakkuk 2:1).  Many,  in times of great difficulty,  turn to God as Paul has said above.  But many don't, many despair, or accuse God, or conclude that He does not exist,  asking themselves why bother being good some  follow the apparently successful ways of the wicked.  The Psalmist confesses “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 72:3,3).  Almost,  until he went into the sanctuary of God; then he understood their end (verse 17).

Part of all this, is that our concept of time is severely warped. We speak of  what to us is a long time,  as “ages.” But on the timeline of history, let alone eternity, our time here on earth is but a punctuation mark.  Job put it this way “my days are but a breath” (Job 7:16). In God's perspective, empires come and go,  they rise and fall, and their plans and councils come to nothing in the end. He tells us that we too need to have this perspective. “For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more”  (Psalm 37:10).  And the point? It raises the question “In light of all this, how shall we then live?”

Father, You are reminding me this morning that the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word that flung stars into space,  these are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7). You are not slack concerning Your promises Lord, with You a thousand years is as a day,  indeed since the the elements will melt with fervent heat we need to keep this perspective,  and with Your help (for which I am asking this morning) to make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with You (verses 12, 14). In Jesus Name Amen