“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know. Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.” (Acts 2:22-23)

Although the trial of Christ appeared to be God in the hands of man, the Apostle Peter makes it plain that it was really man in the hands of God. Christ’s trial, conviction, condemnation and crucifixion were all a part of the predetermined purpose and foreknowledge of God. 

A sovereign God not only wields those yielded to His employ to bring to pass His plans and purposes, but even uses men who are oblivious and opposed to His plans and purposes to bring about His divine designs. 

Whether we are talking about the “powers and principalities of the air,” which the Apostle Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6:12, or human populaces and potentates, none are capable of obstructing the divine program. All are mere pawns at omnipotence’s disposal to bring to pass divinity’s ends.

“A ‘god’ whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to Deity, and so far from being a fit object of worship, merits nought but contempt.” (A.W. Pink)