Knowing God Better – His Sovereignty

Woman shocked at electricity billWhere do you turn when things go wrong? The way you answer that question reveals a lot about you and your God.

This fall, we’re taking our 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders through a series called Knowing God Better.  Throughout this series, we’re looking at what the Bible has to say about the character of God.  The goal of this study is not simply to learn facts about God.  Rather, the goal is to understand God in a way that deepens our appreciation and love for Him, that deepens our relationship with Him.  The goal is to understand God in a way that motivates us to become more like Him.

One of the attributes of God with which we tend to struggle is His sovereignty.  Apparently, the Blue family struggles with it too.  I would recommend reading about their situation and answering the questions that follow with your family.

The Blue Family’s Story

It seemed like just another ordinary afternoon as Betty arrived home from work.  She had stopped by the mailbox on the way into the house.  She was opening up the mail when she noticed a big problem.

BETTY.  They’re cutting off our electricity?!?!  How can they do that?

She quickly got on the phone with the electric company to find out the reason for the problem.  She was not happy and she wanted answers.

BETTY.  What do you mean we haven’t paid our bills?!?!

She pulled out her check book to prove that she had paid, but when she looked through her check register, she couldn’t find any record that she had paid the electric company.

BETTY.  I could have sworn I had paid those bills.  I can’t believe I forgot to do that.  I’m sorry, could you tell me how much we owe?  Six-hundred dollars!!!

It had been four months since she had paid an electric bill.  And with surcharges and late fees, the cost of her electric bill had gone through the roof.  If the bill wasn’t paid, the electric company would cut off their power.

BETTY.  How are we going to pay six-hundred dollars?

Just then Betty’s husband Barney walked through the door looking tired and depressed.

BARNEY.  Honey, you’re not going to believe what happened.  I’ve got bad news.

Barney had not had a good day.

BETTY.  You think you’ve got bad news.  I’ve got bad news.

Betty began to explain the situation with the electric company.

BARNEY.  How can they do that?

She explained that they had missed some payments and that their power would be cut off if they didn’t pay.

BARNEY.  Six-hundred dollars!!!  Oh, this isn’t good.

Barney sat down and began to cry.

BETTY.  I agree the electric bill is bad, but it’s not the end of the world.

BARNEY.  What if it is?

BETTY.  What are you talking about?

Barney explained to Betty that the car had broken down.

BETTY.  Oh, no.

He explained that it would cost one-thousand dollars to fix.

BETTY.  Oh, no!

Finally, he explained that before he left work his boss told him he would be losing his job.

BETTY.  Oh, no!!!

They both began to cry.  With the electric bill and the car repairs and the loss of Barney’s job, it seemed like more than they could bear.

BETTY & BARNEY.  This can’t be happening!

They had no idea how they would pay to fix the car or how they would pay the electric bill or how they would be able to keep food on the table.

BETTY & BARNEY.  What are we going to do?!?!

And just as they were about to lose all hope…it hit them.  They would get help from the only one who was wise enough, strong enough, and powerful enough to help them with their problems…

BETTY & BARNEY.  We’ll ask Bonnie!

They turned to their daughter Bonnie for help.

BETTY & BARNEY.  Bonnie!

Their daughter Bonnie seemed to be in charge of their lives, and she always seemed to know what was right.  She was constantly telling her parents what they needed to do, when they needed to do it, and how they needed to do it.  Surely, Bonnie would have the answer.

BONNIE.  What seems to be the problem?

BETTY.  Well, we have to pay the electric bill.

BARNEY.  And we have to have the car fixed.

BETTY.  And your father just lost his job.

BARNEY.  And we don’t know what to do.

BETTY & BARNEY.  Help us!

Bonnie thought for a minute.

BONNIE.  Now, let me get this straight.  We don’t have a car.

BARNEY.  Right.

BONNIE.  Dad doesn’t have a job.

BETTY.  Right.

BONNIE.  And we aren’t going to have any power?

BARNEY.  Right.

BONNIE.  And you want me to give you the answer?

BETTY & BARNEY.  Right.

BONNIE.  How am I supposed to know?  I’m just a kid.

They all just looked at each other and began to cry.  It turned out that Bonnie wasn’t in charge of their lives after all.  They needed help and they need answers.  But if they were going to get them, they would have to turn to Someone a whole lot wiser, a whole lot stronger, and a whole lot more powerful than they were.

BARNEY.  Wait a minute.  I’ve got it!

BETTY & BONNIE.  What?!

BARNEY.  The TV!  We’ll find our answers on television!

ALL.  Yeah!  All right!

Just then, the power went out.

Questions for Discussion

  1. What were some of the things that went wrong for the Blue family?
  2. When things went wrong in their lives, who did they turn to?
  3. Were the things to which they turned able to help them handle their problems?  Why or why not?
  4. What did their response to life’s problems reveal about their relationship with God?

In Future Posts

We’ll consider more about the Bible’s teaching on the sovereignty of God.

Trey Garner
Trey Garner is the Pastor of Children's Ministries at Faith Church. He has been married to his wife Deb since 2001. They have two children named Noah and Lauren. Originally from Texas, Trey appreciates barnwood, armadillos, and Blue Bell Ice Cream.