As the world reels and convulses over the invasion of Ukraine, we are prone to ask, “Where is God in all of this?”
Whenever I feel unhinged by the uncertainties of this world, one of my go-to passages is Daniel 7. The prophet Daniel is living in exile in Babylon when he has a startling dream of four beasts climbing out of the sea in succession, representing the rise and fall of four great empires. Each empire has its day of power and then meets its demise. And above it all, God the Father, the Ancient of Days, sits enthroned as the sovereign judge of all the nations:
As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9–10)
And then Jesus, the Son of Man, appears on the scene:
And behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13–14)
So where is God in all of this? He is where He has always been. He is seated on His throne. He is sovereign over all the nations. To Him all rulers will give account. And with every imperial beast that rears its head out of the seas of chaos, we are moving inexorably closer to the great and awesome day of the Lord when Jesus shall return in His kingdom, His power, and His glory, and all will be set to rights. So we pray, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”
Because even when the nations rage, we are loved, more than we know.
