The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over every ruler, including evil ones. He doesn’t approve of their wickedness, but he allows them to rise to power and can use even their worst choices to accomplish his good purposes. At the same time, every leader remains fully accountable to God for how they use their authority, and one day justice will be done.
This is one of the harder questions in the Bible, especially when you watch leaders around the world abuse their power. It can feel unsettling to think that God has anything to do with them. But Scripture gives us a framework that is both honest about evil and deeply reassuring about who is ultimately in charge.
God Establishes Governing Authority
The Bible portrays God as actively involved in human government. Paul makes a striking statement about this in his letter to the Christians in Rome, and the timing makes it even more remarkable. He wrote while Emperor Nero was in power, a ruler who would later become infamous for persecuting Christians.
Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Paul isn’t saying every ruler is good or that every law is just. He’s saying that the institution of government exists under God’s authority, and that Christians should generally be good citizens. Peter teaches the same thing in 1 Peter 2:13-17. That doesn’t mean blind obedience, though. When rulers commanded the apostles to stop preaching about Jesus, they answered, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” Our highest loyalty always belongs to God.
God Raises Up and Removes Rulers
God isn’t standing on the sidelines, wishing and hoping that his will comes about. As the ultimate King, he has the power to install and depose earthly kings. Daniel, who served under some of the most powerful and ruthless rulers of his day, understood this well.
Daniel 2:20-21 Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Daniel lived in exile in Babylon, yet he trusted that no king’s reign lasted a moment longer than God allowed. God can use good as well as bad people to accomplish his will, so that his ultimate good will take place. In Habakkuk 1, for example, God says he is raising up the Babylonians to discipline Israel for their sin.
Every Ruler Is Accountable to God
God’s sovereignty never excuses a leader’s evil. Babylon was raised up as an instrument of discipline, yet the prophets also announced that Babylon would be judged for its violence and pride (Isaiah 13). The most sobering example of all is the trial of Jesus. Pilate, who sanctioned Jesus’ execution, thought he was the one holding the power.
John 19:10-11 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
Jesus acknowledges that Pilate’s authority came from God, and in the very same breath he speaks of guilt and sin. God used the injustice of the cross to bring salvation to the world, but that didn’t make Pilate or the religious leaders innocent. Both truths stand side by side.
Trusting God When We Can’t See His Purpose
We can’t always know why God allows a particular leader to rise. Sometimes the suffering caused by bad leaders is real and heartbreaking, and the Bible never asks us to pretend otherwise. We simply don’t have God’s full perspective.
Romans 11:33-34 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
Paul doesn’t explain everything here. He worships. That’s often where our questions lead us too. We can pray for our leaders, work for justice and speak up for what’s right, while trusting that everything will ultimately align with God’s plans, and they are plans for good.
The Takeaway
Does God appoint evil leaders? God is sovereign over every ruler and can use even wicked ones for his purposes, yet he never approves of their evil and will hold each one accountable. We can respect authority, obey God first and rest in his ultimate justice.
