Who ‘ s ultimately in control? (Isaiah 10)

It's tempting sometimes to believe that we have a lot of say in what goes on in our lives and in the world.  While there is a level of truth to that belief, Isaiah 10 teaches us that God is ultimately the One in control.  Yes, we have daily choices that give us the illusion of being in charge, but God seems to have a way of using His sovereignty to make things work out the way He desires.  Israel was to be taken into captivity because of their sins.  As Isaiah records in 10:3, "To whom will [they] flee for help?"  They had forsaken the Lord, and they shouldn't have expected His assistance.  However, God's ultimate plan (as I've stated here over the last few days) was to redeem Israel and the whole world (that includes us non-Jews!).  God's judgment came to the people He used to punish Israel (the Assyrians), and once again the power play was in His hands.  Choose as you like, but in the end God will have His way… not as a forceful leader who imposes His will onto ours but as a gentleman who gives us appropriate opportunity to respond on our own and then takes the situation into His own hands to give Himself the honor and glory.