Our society is fixated on power. We ask, “Who has the power? Who is oppressed? How can we fix it?” But what does the Bible say about power? How does God use power?

The scene is a familiar one. Ahab the king wanted a piece of land owned by Naboth. However, Naboth didn’t want to sell. The queen found a solution that required the exercise of lethal power via deception and subterfuge. The incident aptly illustrates the typical power governments exercise to get what they want. Still, God gets the last word.

The Romans claimed to have absolute power over their subjects, especially low-status peasants and revolutionaries. Pontius Pilate, however, appears out maneuvered by his “subjects” who insist on Jesus’ execution. For his part, Jesus does not play power politics. He does not connive or conspire. He knows where the real power lies, and he freely submits to it.

The world’s wisdom and power are folly and weakness to God. What he accomplished through Christ is true wisdom and true power, but only to those who are called and who believe. What’s more, salvation is not exclusively available to the powerful and influential. In fact, those people are less likely to submit to God’s upside-down salvation program.