Throughout the Bible, God is depicted as sovereign over all creation, including the nations of the world. He uses nations as instruments to fulfill His divine purposes, whether for judgment, discipline, or blessing. This theme is evident in both the Old and New Testaments, where God orchestrates the rise and fall of empires to accomplish His will.

Old Testament Examples

1. Assyria and Babylon: In the prophetic books, God uses Assyria and Babylon as instruments of judgment against Israel and Judah for their disobedience and idolatry. Isaiah 10:5-6 states, "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets." Similarly, God raises Babylon to conquer Judah, as seen in Jeremiah 25:9 : "behold, I will send for all the families of the north,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land and against its residents and against all the surrounding nations."

2. Persia: God also uses Persia as an instrument of deliverance. In Isaiah 45:1 , God refers to Cyrus, the Persian king, as His anointed: "This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him so that the gates will not be shut." Cyrus's decree allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, fulfilling God's promise of restoration.

New Testament Perspective

1. Roman Empire: In the New Testament, the Roman Empire serves as a backdrop for the spread of the Gospel. Despite its oppressive nature, God uses the Roman infrastructure, roads, and relative peace (Pax Romana) to facilitate the rapid dissemination of Christianity. Paul, a Roman citizen, benefits from the legal system to preach the Gospel across the empire, as seen in Acts 22:25-29 .

2. Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: The New Testament also emphasizes God's sovereignty over nations while upholding human responsibility. In Acts 17:26-27 , Paul declares, "From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us."

Theological Implications

The use of nations as instruments underscores God's ultimate authority and control over history. It demonstrates that no nation rises or falls outside of His sovereign will. This theme reassures believers of God's active involvement in world affairs and His ability to bring about His purposes, even through secular powers. It also serves as a reminder of the accountability of nations to God's moral standards, as seen in the prophetic warnings and judgments pronounced against them.

Conclusion

The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as the supreme ruler who uses nations to achieve His divine objectives. Whether through judgment, discipline, or the advancement of His kingdom, God's sovereign hand is evident in the affairs of nations, affirming His ultimate authority over all creation.