35 Bible Verses About God’s Sovereignty
Bible Verses about God’s Sovereignty tells us that God is the real God. He can do what he wants to do. He is the founder of this universe. All the things are managed by him, he can do anything he wants. As a God’s creature it’s our duty to respect His decisions and do what He commanded us to do. Many personalities in the Bible are examples of accepting God’s Sovereignty. Including them are Abraham, Noah, Jeremiah, Moses, Joseph, Job, Solomon, David, Samuel, Daniel, Ruth, Esther. These personalities accept God’s Sovereignty and live according to his will and command.
Sovereignty of God on Creation
Verse#1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Genesis 1:1
Explanation
This verse tells us that God created the earth and the heavens in the beginning. The creation of the earth and the heavens shows the kingship and sovereignty of God.
Verse#2
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Psalm 19:1
Explanation
In this verse, David says that when we look up to heaven, we see God’s sovereignty and kingdom. How well he made the heavens above the earth and produced various crops and treasures in the earth.
Verse#3
It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Isaiah 45:12
Explanation
In this verse, God says that the real sovereignty belongs to Him. He created the earth and the heavens. Everything in the heavens and the earth was created by His hands. There is no one but God who can create all these things.
Verse#4
But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Jeremiah 10:12
Explanation
In this verse, Jeremiah says that only God has sovereignty over the earth and the sky. He created the earth and He created the sky. The world exists because of Him and is bound by His order.
Verse#5
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Job 38:4
Explanation
When difficulties came upon Job, he questioned God, and God said that what is known to God cannot be known to the creatures. Were you with me when God created the earth and the sky? Do you know how I made them? This made Job realize that some things happen to us and the outcome is unknown to us, this knowledge is known only to God.
Verse#6
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
Colossians 1:16
Explanation
In this verse Paul says that God created all things from the earth to the heavens and from the visible to the invisible. All are created by God and He is the ruler over everything. All things are subject to His command.
Verse#7
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
John 1:3
Explanation
In this verse, John says that God created the earth, the heavens and everything in them through Jesus. If Jesus had not existed, all these things that have been created would not have been created.
Verse#8
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
Hebrews 1:3
Explanation
It is mentioned in this verse that God alone sustains the earth and the sky. He is the ruler. Nothing moves from its place without His command and when we look at all the things on earth, we see the reflection and sovereignty of God.
Verse#9
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Book
New-Testament
Reference
Revelation 4:11
Explanation
This verse tells us that all things are created by God and that God is sovereign over everything, therefore He is worthy of praise and worship.
Verse#10
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
Romans 1:20
Explanation
In this verse, Paul says that if we look at the world and look at everything that God has made, we see the power of God. We cannot ignore the fact that there is a great being who created this world. And we see the glimpse of God in His power. Eternal sovereignty belongs only to God who created all.
Sovereignty of God in Salvation
Verse#11
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Isaiah 46:10
Explanation
God’s intention is revealed in this verse. God says that He will reveal the things that have happened and the things that will happen because He can do His will. No one can stop it. God owns his will. It is an expression of His sovereignty.
Verse#12
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Explanation
In this verse, God says that if one obeys His commands and repents, God will forgive him and change his stony heart into a heart of understanding. He will change his sins into virtues. This verse shows the sovereignty of God that He can turn sinners to righteousness whenever He wants. And when he wants, he can forgive whomever he wants.
Verse#13
But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Jonah 2:9
Explanation
This verse states that when Jonah was in a difficult time, he called out to God and said that he would sacrifice in the way of God because God is the only one who can bring a person out of trouble and have mercy on him. Jonah said this in the belly of the fish.
Verse#14
From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Psalm 3:8
Explanation
These verses are taken from the book of David in which it is said that it is God who saves people and all the blessings that come to people are from God. This implies that God is the owner and has sovereignty over all.
Verse#15
“I have loved you,” says the Lord.“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
Book
Old-Testament
Reference
Malachi 1:2-3
Explanation
In this verse, God has expressed His will and said that He can choose anyone at His will and He can love or hate anyone at His will. Just as God loved Isaac’s son Jacob instead of Esau.
Verse#16
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
John 6:44
Explanation
In this verse, Jesus says that whoever God wants to save, He draws him and brings him to Me. It means that only the person gets salvation whom God wants. This implies that God has sovereignty and will. Man cannot do anything about it.
Verse#17
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
Ephesians 1:4-5
Explanation
In this verse, Paul says that God chose us before we were created. And he did it so that there would be no blemish in us and we would become holy. God’s pleasure was in this and God can do whatever He wants. God can choose, save and love whomever He wants.
Verse#18
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
Romans 8:29-30
Explanation
This verse states that God chooses whomever He wills and then guides him. After guidance, He shows him the path of righteousness and then shows him His glory. This verse shows the sovereignty of God that He can guide to the straight path whom He wills.
Verse#19
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
2 Timothy 1:9
Explanation
In this verse Paul says that God has called us to salvation. It was God’s mercy upon us. There was no action of ours that called us to salvation. It means that God’s mercy and blessing play a role in salvation rather than our actions.
Verse#20
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Book
New-Testament
Reference
Titus 3:5
Explanation
This verse tells us that our good deeds do not play a role in our salvation, but God’s will and mercy play a role. This shows God’s sovereignty.
Bible Verses God Sovereignty And 15 Biblical Personalities
Events in the life of these personalities are a great lesson for us. Their lives teach us how to live according to God’s will. They live as God wants and accept things with whose outcome they were not familiar. But later they realize how perfect God’s decisions are. Let’s dive into their life events.
Abrahm
God commanded Abrahm to leave His country to others. Abraham don’t know the reason but he left the country on God’s order, Because he knows only God knows the outcome due to His sovereignty.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
Joseph
During the reign of Joseph, there was a famine, which caused great distress to everyone. Joseph believed in God and, believing in God’s sovereignty, took important steps to survive the famine.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20)
Moses
God commanded Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and lead them. Moses fulfilled God’s command because he acted according to God’s sovereignty.
And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)
Job
God put Job in many difficulties, even his children, wealth, and health were all destroyed. But still he believed in God because he knew that what God knows, no human being can know.
“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2)
David
God chose David to be the king of the Israelites and David gladly accepted to rule over this land because he knew that we cannot understand God’s plans and that a servant must act according to God’s command.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:13)
Solomon
Solomon was given wisdom by God and through this wisdom, Solomon brought people to the right path.
I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. (1 Kings 3:12)
Esther
Esther faced difficult times, even her life was in danger, but she acted courageously, trusting in God’s sovereignty, and saved herself and her people from oppression.
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
Daniel
Daniel also led the people by believing in God’s sovereignty.
and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. (Daniel 2:20-21)\
Jonah
Jonah was commanded by God to deliver God’s message to the people, and Jonah followed God’s commands and delivered God’s commands to the wayward nation.
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3:1-2)
Noah
God told Noah to build an ark and put his family and animals in it. Noah built the ark according to God’s command and gathered the speechless animals and his family into it.
Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22)
Elijah
At Elijah’s prayer, God showed His sovereignty to the people and ended the false prophecies of the false prophets of Baal. God sent fire from heaven to prove that He is God and Elijah is God’s prophet.
At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. (1 Kings 18:36-38)
Ruth
Similarly, Ruth faced many difficult situations. Her husband died, but she married Boaz. She molded her life according to God’s will and as a result, she became the grand grandmother of King David‘s.
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:13-17)
Samuel
Similarly, Samuel was dedicated in God’s way. Samuel considered it God’s will for him, so he spent his entire life delivering God’s messages to the people.
On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! (Joshua 10:12-14)
Joshua
God commanded Joshua to stop the sun and the moon, so Joshua followed God’s command and stopped the sun and the moon, which resulted in their victory.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. (1 Samuel 3:10-11)
Jeremiah
God had chosen Jeremiah as a prophet even before he was born, and Jeremiah lived up to God’s decision and delivered God’s message to the people.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
The purpose of these Bible verses is to make us understand that God is sovereign. He created the earth and the heavens. And all things are subject to His command. It is his will to do whatever he wants with the world. Everything in the world testifies to His sovereignty and our salvation is also by His will. Our good deeds have no role in it. From the system of the universe to the salvation of man, everything involves God’s will and sovereignty.
