Chance and the fate of the nation

"No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another."- Psalm 75:6, 7

To what degree does chance or fate cause the establishment and removal of world leaders? Is a man a leader only because of his power and charisma, or is there a God in heaven who decrees that one shall lead and another shall be set aside?

I am reminded of an incident that took place about 2,700 years ago when an arrogant king defied advice and decency in flaunting his authority. His name was Ahab, the King of Ancient Israel.

In a strange alliance with Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, Ahab declared war on an old enemy, Syria. To foil the negative words of the prophet Micaiah, who had prophesied his death, Ahab disguised himself as an ordinary soldier. Jehoshaphat wore his royal robes–becoming himself a target for the enemy soldiers.

The enemy had been told to fight with no one except King Ahab. But if Ahab was disguised as an ordinary foot soldier, how then was the enemy to know which one in the field was the commander-in-chief?

The enemy soldiers may not have known. But the Almighty saw through Ahab’s disguise very clearly. Here’s the record of what happened. "Someone drew his bow at random and hit the King of Israel between the sections of his armor...so the King died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there" (1 Kings 22:34,37). Think of the statistical odds of that happening!

An archer takes his bow and lets fly an arrow at no target in particular. Yet it just happens to strike the man who just happens to be the commander-in-chief, and that arrow just happens to strike between the plates of his armor and kill him.

Before Ahab went to battle, he had been warned. In fact, Micaiah told him, "If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you people!" (1 Kings 22:28).

Leadership in our world is not a matter of chance or charisma, but the result of the counsel and will of the Almighty, who raises one up and sets another aside. Here’s the text: "No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another" (Psalm 75:6,7).

When situations that bring jeopardy and suffering to humanity develop, God works through men, yet it is He who puts one aside and raises another up.

Let us not forget that those who walk across the stage of world leadership are there only by the grace of God. - Resource Reading: Psalm 75