So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son. 2 Kings 13:3

I notice a couple of things about this verse. 1) The Lord got angry – again – with Israel, and 2) to punish them, He kept them under Hazael’s rule. After generations of repenting and going back into sin, Israel had not learned her lesson. It’s almost as if God is telling them, “you may not understand this, but I’m doing it for your own good!”

Israel wasn’t calling the shots.
Hazael king of Aram wasn’t calling the shots.

The LORD God alone was calling the shots. Period.

Thousands of years have passed and we see the same God calling the shots for leaders and nations that rise and fall. The people cry out, “this is what we want.” He gives it to them and they fall into gross sin, and walk away completely disillusioned and dissatisfied.

So, even though we seem to be in the midst of economic and political upheaval, we can resta assured that the LORD God Almighty is calling the shots.