[God] determines the course of world events.
—Daniel 2:21 New Living Translation
“Comfort my people,” God said to Isaiah.
So, Isaiah reminds us of God’s power over the powerful.
“God brings down rulers and turns them into nothing. They are like flowers freshly sprung up and starting to grow. But when God blows on them, they wilt and are carried off like straw in a storm” (Is 40:23–24 CEV).
Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin—each had his day, and each has been long gone. World rulers have terrifying power, but it’s temporary. The powerful don’t decide the ultimate destiny of nations. “God determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne” (Dn 2:21).
As we near the end of chapter 40 of Isaiah, the prophet says: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God” (Is 40:28).
God is in control.