Attributes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.1  The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.2  Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the sea and all deeps.3  For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.4

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; none can stay His hand or say to Him: "What have You done?",5 since He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.6  He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings.7 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He will.8  The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps,9 for many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.10  And so the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My Name might be proclaimed in all the earth."11

We know that God can do all things, and that no plan of His can be thwarted.12  The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.13  Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?14  He forms light and creates darkness; He makes well-being and creates calamity; it is I AM—the LORD— who does all these things.15  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from our Father.  Even the hairs of our head are all numbered.16

So then God has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens whomever He wills.17  Therefore, we ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."18  Someone might say: "Then why does He still find fault?  For who can resist His will?"  But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?  Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have You made me like this?”19 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.20  If disaster comes upon us—the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine—we will cry out to the LORD in our affliction, and He will hear and save.21  For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, to the praise of His glorious grace,22 according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.23

He is worthy, as Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for He created all things, and by His will they existed and were created.24  Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be glory forever.  Amen.25

1. Gen 1:1    2. Psa 103:19    3. Psa 135:6    4. Col 1:16    5. Dan 4:35    6. Acts 17:26    7. Dan 2:21    8. Prov 21:1    9. Prov 16:9    10. Prov 19:21    11. Rom 9:17    12. Job 42:2    13. Prov 16:33    14. Amos 3:6    15. Isa 45:7    16. Matt 10:29-30    17. Rom 9:18.    18. Jam 4:15    19. Rom 9:19-20    20. Rom 8:28    21. 2Chr 20:9    22. Eph 1:4-6    23. Eph 1:11    24. Rev 4:11    25. Rom 11:33,36