God has complete sovereignty over his creation. He sustains all things continuously, generating and controlling every aspect of every being. It follows that he is the cause of every thought in man. Thoughts are not self-generated out of nothing. Whether made for honor or dishonor, man is a vessel that acts according to what God has decreed, so that every inclination and decision comes from God’s will and serves his purpose. His sovereignty over every thought of man is a manifestation of God being God. Thus the righteous man cannot boast of his righteousness, and the reprobate cannot escape his damnation. 

God can turn the hearts of kings wherever he pleases. Scripture says God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in Exodus. This was not the result of God’s observation or indirect influence on Pharaoh’s will, but a direct control of his decisions. When the prophets spoke, it was because the Spirit inspired them and carried them. When Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, Jesus said the Father had revealed it to him. When Satan entered Judas and he betrayed Jesus, it was due to God’s decree to fulfill the plan of salvation. Revelation and rebellion both originate from God. Yet, God is righteous because he is God. The very definition of righteousness proceeds from him.