THE TRUE RULER

Ancient nations believed that the power of certain gods was limited to specific regions. Baal and Asherah were the gods and goddess of Canaan. Dagon was the god of the Philistines (Judges 16:23). Chemosh was the god of the Moabites, Milcom or Moloch was the god of the Ammonites, and Ashtoreth was the goddess of the Sidonians (1 Kings 11:5, 7). Each of their followers believed that these gods protected and blessed them, while opposing their enemies. This was also how these nations viewed the God of Israel. They thought that the power of God was limited to the nation of Israel and opposed them.

However, it turns out that God does not only rule over one nation, even though He is pleased to be called the God of Israel. He is the Ruler of all the earth. He is the one who created everything. He loves all nations. He wants everyone to know and obey Him. His choice of Israel was precisely so that through His chosen people, other nations would come to know Him.

Joseph, a descendant of Israel, helped Pharaoh understand the meaning of his dream. That God had informed the Egyptian king about what He would do. Although He was not one of the Egyptian gods, He ruled over their lives. When Pharaoh was willing to obey the Lord, his nation experienced a time of abundance and was able to endure the subsequent drought that struck. This should remind us that God has the power to intervene in the lives of everyone, including the leaders of nations (see Proverbs 21:1). Therefore, we should support and pray for them so that they also learn to obey God's guidance. --HT/www.renunganharian.net