in-charge“Who’s in charge here?!”

I must have heard that line barked out a dozen or more times in war and spy movies.  When there’s news to be delivered, the courier wants to speak to the highest ranking person there.  Not because the courier feels important, but because it’s the way the chain-of-command works.

I wonder if sometimes the angels in heaven look down on us and bark, “who’s in charge here?!”  We as God’s kids can get in a nasty habit of forgetting the chain-of-command in our lives.  And guess what.  You and I are not on top of it.

Neither are the angels.

I bet you can guess who is.

Psalm 76:10-12 reads:

10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. 11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;he is feared by the kings of the earth.

The more humanity fights against God, the more He is glorified.  Remember Pharaoh in the book of Exodus?  The more he resisted, the more God was glorified.  I’m sure the angels were yelling at him, “Hey, Pharaoh, who’s in charge here?”

Fighting against God’s authority is not only an exercise in futility, it’s a battle that’s over before it’s fought.  Our Lord is a Mighty Warrior—a General of Generals if you will.  And our Lord expects us to obey Him.  He’s in charge here.  Dearly loved of the Lord, it’s a good thing that He’s in charge.

A man in the Bible had a problem with God’s authority and for 37 chapters in the book named after him, Job moaned and groaned about God.  In chapter 38, God finally answers by challenging, “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge…where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  Tell me if you understand” (Job 38:2,4).

We don’t understand.  We’re not God.  And we’re not in charge.  And we’re much (much!) better off because of it!

“Who’s in charge here?!”

The Lord our God.