The old negro spiritual says, "He's got the whole world in His hands." It's a great song, but sometimes I question whether it's really true. If God has the whole world in His hands, why does He allow suffering to continue so long? At times it looks like the Devil is the one who is really in charge.
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I recently read about a homeless prostitute in San Francisco who was attacked by two women because her boyfriend owed one of them some money. They beat her, dragged her into a parking lot, stripped off her clothes and set her on fire. Did God have that incident in His hands, or did the Devil? This same question can be applied to every act of violence, evil, and injustice that has been committed from the beginning of time. Who's in charge here?
I guess the truth is both God and the Devil have dibs on us. The Devil's claim goes way back to the Garden of Eden when Eve stood before the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and ate the forbidden fruit. God's claim goes back before the creation of earth to a time when He and Jesus agreed upon an ambitious plan to save humans from their failure to trust in Him.1
Right now the Devil's fingerprints are everywhere. You'd be stupid to say he isn't exerting control throughout the world. But the end-game is what ultimately matters. In Superbowl XLI many were certain the Chicago Bears would ultimately win. They were quick to put points on the board and had some definitive moments of glory. But in the end the Colts walked away with the Superbowl trophy.
God has the world in His hands--at least that's what Scripture says about the final score. He will walk away with the prize! But that's hard to believe when the score is 21-7 at the top of the 4th quarter with God's team getting killed.
Sometimes we just have to trust the Coach. We have to believe He knows what he's doing, even if we don't. Paul says, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."2 As much as I would like to, I cannot see the whole picture. Some vital parts appear to be missing, and at times because of this the negro spiritual is hard to sing.
Dear God, I believe my life is in your hands today. Show me how to be your hands to those who aren't so sure.
By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services
1. Revelation 13:8
2. 1 Corinthians 13:12
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