A lot of folks around here are having trouble breathing this year, probably because they’re holding their noses.

The Presidential Election of 2024 forces America to choose the lesser of two evils. Do we want the childish egomaniac or the socialist flip-flopper? The apparent liar, or the one who can’t seem to put a complete sentence together? The prolific mean-tweeter or the candidate who seems anything but tech-savvy? The candidate no one knows much about or the candidate we know all too well? Hold your nose and make your pick, but you may not be very happy with the choice.

It’s discouraging, that in a nation of 330 million people, these are the 2 best candidates the political parties can offer. I agree with a commentator who, after watching a debate said, “I’m not sure who won, but I think the American people lost!”

Nations have faced bad choices in the past. After King Solomon died, Rehoboam, his son, was the king-apparent. The people of Israel, however, were tired of supporting Solomon’s domestic infrastructure agenda through high taxes so, before anointing Rehoboam as King, they asked him to lessen the tax burden. Rehoboam consulted with his older, more experienced advisors, and they advised him to cut taxes and win the favor of the people. But when Rehoboam asked his friends to weigh-in on the issue, they encouraged him to be tough and let people know who’s in charge, to take control before things get out of hand. Rehoboam listened to the young men and told the nation, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions” (1 Kings 12:10-11, NIV).

Jeroboam, who had served capably in Solomon’s cabinet, had a mixed history with Solomon and his family. The prophet Ahijah had predicted that Jeroboam would eventually rule over the majority of Solomon’s kingdom, prompting Solomon to see Jeroboam as a rival to be eliminated, forcing Jeroboam to flee to Egypt for safety. Then, angered by Rehoboam’s response to their request for tax cuts, many of the people of Israel welcomed Jeroboam back from exile and rallied behind him as their new king. As a result, the kingdom split. Some followed Rehoboam, but most people followed Jeroboam.

Which King should Israel pick, the out-of-touch idiot or the know-it-all hothead? The stubborn, spoiled son of royalty, or the leader who would take them into civil war?

The positive side of this bad-politician conundrum is the fact that human leaders don’t have the final say. Whether there’s a Democrat or a Republican in the White House, there’s still a King on Heaven’s throne. Nothing surprises Him and nothing lies beyond His control. There’s no wrong He can’t right, no situation He can’t handle and no sin He can’t forgive. God determined the destiny of nations millennia before America separated itself from King George, and He’s been in charge of death and disease since the Garden of Eden. God knows your needs before you ask and He’s promised to be with us always. In a world of change and uncertainty, He’s dependable and capable.

Proverbs 21:1 (ESV) says “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” God is ultimately in charge of events, even when incompetent or evil people seem to take charge. Pharoah, you’ll remember, was determined not to let the people of Israel leave Egyptian slavery; but the Lord changed his mind. And when Pharoah reneged and tried to force Israel back into captivity, the Lord defended Israel and Pharoah’s army drowned. Pharoah might have been the most powerful man in the world, but he was still man and God was still God.

That’s our consolation in a sorry election year. Politicians don’t determine the quality of our lives as much as they often promise that they can, but even when they change the world, they don’t decide our final destiny. So, as Paul instructs in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, let’s pray for those in positions of leadership so that we can “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Let’s “be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1). But most of all, let’s remember that God is Sovereign. Residents of the White House come and go, but God remains on His throne.

Breathe.