Does God cast the deciding vote?

Judges 13; Jeremiah 26; Mark 12; Acts 17

Sometimes I’ve made choices and later asked myself, “What was I thinking?” Clothes that make me look wider, friends that continually lied to me, vehicles that were always needing repairs, and the list goes on. It happens with elections too. People vote for what seemed a good choice but that person turned out the opposite of what was expected.

Judges 13 describes the beginning of Sampson’s role in Israel. He was not voted in by a democratic election but sent by God to deliver His people from forty years of domination by the Philistines. Their name comes from a root word meaning rolling or wallowing in the dust or rolling in the sense of migratory. I get an image of people who are not stable in their residence or lifestyle. Under their thumbs, Israel worshiped their idols and were victims of their way of life.

Sampson was an odd choice. He married one of the enemy’s women but her father gave her to someone else. He played silly games with these people who were his enemies, defeated them on several occasions but they murdered his wife and her father. He chased a couple other women, was trapped by one of them who tricked him, wound up in the hands of the Philistines who mocked him. As that was happening, he pulled down the building they were in and he died as he killed a few thousand of their leaders and their wives. Sampson judged Israel for twenty years and had I been one of God’s people at that time, I would have wondered why God picked him.

But God was in this. Though Samson’s parents objected to his marrying a Philistine woman, they allowed Samson’s wishes to prevail. “His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines . . . .” (Judges 14:4) This does not mean that breaking the Law was desired by God but that Samson’s decision was overruled by God for His own purpose and glory.

Is that happening today? Are we victims of our choices and an ungodly way of life? Is God at work using leaders voted in by a fickle population that have soon become critical of them? While voters express dissatisfaction with their choices, are we missing the idea that God had reasons for putting these leaders in their roles? This is not to say they are superior leaders but that God can use even foolish decisions for His purposes. He sets them up, even those we wonder about. Daniel knew this was the case. He said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Daniel 2:20–21)

Jesus also said to those who arrested Him: “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above . . . .” (John 19:11) Even though we vote, God’s sovereignty plays a major role in the outcome.

That said, instead of saying “What was I thinking?” I’ve been asking, “God, what are you thinking?” What is it about these leaders that God wants to use in the lives of His people? In my life?

His priority must be trust; the Lord desires that I trust Him, His wisdom and might. Even though many people seem oblivious to what they or others are doing, and certainly what God is doing, the Lord knows what He is up to and I know that He is never wrong or deceitful. There was purpose in allowing Sampson’s foolish choices and there is purpose in what God has done since then and is doing now.

APPLY: I have prayed for many things and realize that if God is not answering my prayers, then He has a better plan. He can be trusted. He will reveal that plan to me if I need to see it. Otherwise, I can live without fear and let Him take care of the actions taken by leaders who seem silly to me — but what do I know? God can act through the selfishness of Sampson; He can still do the same in anyone who He sets up as a leader. My role for now is to let His peace rule in my heart!