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.
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).
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).