Hair loss, saber rattling, and the sovereignty of God

Dr. Marc Drake, Sr. Pastor, First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes

The Bible tells us: The very hairs of your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30). Did you know that according to experts, there are an estimated 100,000 hair follicles on the average scalp and about 30,000 in a man’s beard? Furthermore, most of us lose between 50 and 100 hairs daily. Isn’t it remarkable that God keeps track of the exact number? This, of course, is due to the fact that He is omniscient (all-knowing) but it is also a testimony to His grace. If His love for us includes something so small, it’s certain that He will let nothing great escape His attention either.

This truth is particularly encouraging in the day in which we live. If we lose sight of it, we will become fearful and anxious over economic matters, terrorism, corruption in government and the persecution of believers throughout the world. But because God is on His throne, the believer has no cause to worry or fret. In fact, Scripture instructs us not to worry about anything but to pray about everything. When you think about it, there are only two categories of things for which we ought not to worry: those things we cannot do anything about and the things we can do something about. That pretty well covers it, doesn’t it? So, why worry? I love the following quote by Thomas D. Talmage:

“When omniscience has lost its eyesight, and omnipotence falls back impotent and Jehovah is driven from His throne, then the Church of Jesus Christ can afford to be despondent, but never until then. Despots may plan and armies may march, and the congresses of the nations may seem to think they are adjusting all the affairs of the world, but the mighty men of the earth are only the dust of the chariot wheels of God’s providence.”

So, the next time you hear of nations rattling their sabers (which is pretty often these days!), just remember that God is the One in control and He will never be driven from His throne! He who knows the number of hairs on our head knows how to govern His universe. “Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry. For the Lord Most High is awe-inspiring, a great King over all the earth.” (Psalm 47:1-2).

The celebrated musician, Johann Sebastian Bach, used to sign his compositions “S.D.G.” which stands for Soli Deo Gloria, “To God alone be the glory.” What a marvelous declaration! God is truly in sovereign control over His creation and He alone is worthy to be worshiped.