Though God’s omnipotence grates harshly on the sufferer’s ear when he is in rebellion against his Maker, this truth enables the saint to repent of his bitter complaints, put his hand over his mouth, and bow before the incomprehensible majesty of God.

The doctrine of God’s power has nearly as many applications as there are verses in the Scriptures, for it fills the Bible from beginning to end. For the sake of the reader’s meditation and spirituality, we highlight several practical implications of this important truth.

First, God’s sovereignty calls us to repentance from rebellion. Job 9:4 says, “He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?” Watson said, “It is better to meet God with tears in your eyes than weapons in your hand.”¹ In fact, it is the most foolish thing in the world to fight against the omnipotent God. The psalmist marveled, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” (Ps. 2:1). Mankind has engaged in an impossible war. Their plots provoke only divine laughter, derision, and wrath (vv. 4–5). In the end, rebels will be crushed by Christ as a piece of pottery is shattered by an iron club (v. 9). He can crush you in a moment: Will you not, therefore, bow before him?² If we have repented and been reconciled to God, let us wage ceaseless war against our remaining insubordination. John Brown of Haddington said, “If he be Almighty, a sovereign Ruler, am I…still trembling before him? Do I always labor to check the very first risings of my heart in rebellion against him?”³

Second, God’s sovereignty calls us to trust in the promises.⁴ The eye of the flesh cannot see how it is possible for God’s promises to come true, but the eye of faith looks to the Lord omnipotent. It seemed ridiculous that God would give old Abraham and barren Sarah a son, but he gently admonished them, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14). Whatever dangers you may face, believe that God is able to sustain you in them or rescue you from them. Let those in covenant with God rejoice that their Lord is almighty; they have a friend who can do anything.⁵ A hearty confidence in God’s infinite power is requisite for us to trust his promises, for we must be, like Abraham, “fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Rom. 4:21). Abraham is our spiritual father if we walk in the footsteps of his faith (v. 12). Such faith is crucial for our perseverance in sanctification. Watson said, “The strong God can conquer thy strong corruption; though sin be too hard for thee, yet not for him.”⁶ Certainly, if we met a man who could bring a mountain into existence merely by speaking, we would be frightened by his power. Much more we should fear the God who created the stars and planets with his mere word (Ps. 33:8–9). Few people consider what it would mean for such a God to be angry with them (90:11). Let us loathe the thought of provoking him: “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?” (1 Cor. 10:22).⁸ Yet the infinite resources of his power are for those who fear him, not against them. We may fear him with childlike confidence in our heavenly Father. Meditate on the power of the King, and say, “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty….Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?” (Rev. 15:3–4).

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