Why does God allow evil rulers like Hitler and Saddam to have power?

TL;DR:

God allows even evil rulers, like Hitler and Saddam, to come to power under His sovereign control, using their actions to fulfill His greater purposes. Though we may not understand why, the Bible calls us to respect earthly authority while trusting in God’s ultimate justice and future reign.

what does the bible say?

God knows ahead of time who will rule a given nation, and those rulers exist under His sovereign control (Romans 13:1–7). Regardless of whether the ruler is evil or good, God has control of the person in charge of every nation. God can turn the heart of a king wherever He will (Proverbs 21:1).

The Bible has many examples of evil rulers, yet God ultimately controlled their reigns and the outcomes. Pharaoh sought to keep the Israelites as slaves, even after God sent Moses to tell him to let them go. Despite Pharaoh's evil oppression, God's will prevailed. The book of Judges offers many examples of times when God's people lived under oppression, cried out for help, and then were given new leadership raised up by God. In the New Testament, the early church encountered much opposition from governing leaders (Acts 8). But the persecution helped spread the gospel (Acts 8:4).

from the old testament

Proverbs 21:1 teaches that the heart of a king is in the hand of the Lord, and He directs it wherever He pleases. This shows God's influence over earthly rulers.
Daniel 2:21 speaks to God's sovereignty in setting up and deposing kings, reinforcing the idea that all authority is ultimately under God's control.

from the new testament

Paul instructs believers to submit to governing authorities, emphasizing that all authority is established by God (Romans 13:1–7).
In Titus 3:1, Paul instructs Titus to remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready for every good work.
Christians should submit to authorities for the Lord's sake and as a testimony to non-believers (1 Peter 2:13–17).

implications for today

Should Christians obey evil rulers? Acts 5:27–29 makes it clear that as long as the law of the land does not contradict the law of God, Christians are bound to obey the law of the land. However, if the law of the land contradicts God’s command, then we are to obey God’s law, rather than earthly commands. Yet even in that instance, we are to accept the government’s authority over us. This is demonstrated by the fact that Peter and John did not protest being flogged, but instead, rejoiced that they suffered for obeying God (Acts 5:40–42).

God may not reveal the reasons for certain evil leaders, like Hitler or Saddam, being in power, but He does use such evil leaders to accomplish His will. The Bible has numerous examples of how God ultimately controls and limits the evil a tyrant can yield. God promises a future day when He will ultimately provide judgment and rule as King (Revelation 21–22).

understand

God controls all rulers, using even evil ones to fulfill His purposes.
Christians must obey authorities unless their laws oppose God’s commands.
God limits evil rulers’ power and promises ultimate justice in His future reign.

reflect

How do you personally reconcile trusting God’s sovereignty with the presence of evil rulers in the world?
How could submitting to earthly authorities challenge or strengthen your faith?
How can your trust in God’s ultimate justice shape your response to injustice or oppression today?

engage

How does understanding God’s control over rulers influence the way we live within local politics?
What biblical examples can we learn from when facing persecution or injustice under oppressive authorities?
How should Christians discern what it looks like to be obedient to government while obeying God when the two seem to conflict?