The Rod of the Lord

God uses His enemies as tools to carry out His purpose. Wicked men act wickedly, according to their own evil desires, but God uses them to serve His purpose.

1. God is absolutely sovereign over all things.
2. God's purpose, contrasted with man's purpose.
3. Three lessons learned from the sovereignty of God.
   a.God directed the evil plot to where it was merited. While not all suffering is due to God's correction, sometimes it is, and it is wise to be humble before the Lord.
   b.God keeps the wicked within limits. Though your circumstance seems to be out of control, God always controls and directs.
   c. God holds the wicked accountable, even though He directs their actions to accomplish His purpose. eg. Assyria was punished for its wickedness. Here is an important aspect of God's sovereignty, and something of a mysterious paradox. The Lord is absolutely soveriegn, but He also holds men responsible for their own actions.
   Conclusion: This teaching comforts us as we consider God's sovereign control of all things. Nothing happens outside of His plan. If we are suffering, we conclude that God is allowing it for out good. If enemies attack us, we can rest assured that God is in control. All things are in His hands.