3 Reasons History Is His-Story



“History is a story written by the finger of God.”

– C. S. Lewis

The End From the Beginning

God is in control of history. I would even say history is His-story, as God is the only One “declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose'” (Isaiah 46:10). Imagine that! God declares those things that are not yet as though they already exist. Even prophecy is history written backwards by the finger of God! How exceedingly awesome and amazing is our God.

The Sovereign God

God is sovereign over all things. Even “the king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). The point is, the king may rule but God overrules.  Only God can declare, “’Can I not do with you as this potter has done?’ declares the LORD. ‘Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it’” (Jeremiah 18:6-8).

His Eternal Purposes

You probably don’t need convincing that history is written by the finger of God, but just in case there is any doubt, read what Daniel wrote about God, which says, “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:21-22). What Daniel is saying and what the New Living Translation says more precisely is that “he controls the course of world events” and “he removes kings and sets up other kings” (Daniel 2:21). Whatever God pleases He does, and nothing can change that.

Conclusion

C. S. Lewis was so good with words, and he is so right about God writing history with His own finger, meaning that He writes it out so that it will come to pass. He knows the end from the beginning before the beginning even exists, and He is sovereign over all history and all rulers; whether they know it or not doesn’t matter to God. His eternal decrees will stand because history is His-story.