Re: To say God is sovereign...

What I mean by God is all-powerful, or omnipotent, and what I believe the scriptures mean, is that nothing is getting in the way of God's ultimate will for mankind. God has a revealed will that he has laid out in the scriptures of what we should and should not be doing, what sin is, etc. and that revealed will is violated my man constantly. But that does not mean God is not accomplishing his plan that he set out to accomplish before the foundation of the world.
Pharaoh had power over the Israelites up until the very moment God decided his power over them would cease, and the whole time he had power over them, he was still limited in his power by God. In other words, God still had complete control over Pharaoh. God was using Pharaoh to accomplish his will.
Romans 9:17
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

At the right time, Jesus will return and all evil will be completely wiped out. God could do that anytime he wanted, but he has set a time when he will do this according to his the plan he made before the foundation of the world.
In the meantime, all of mankind have a free-will to an extent, they can act according to their natures, but they can't in their limited free-will violate God's ultimate will.

Psalms 135:6
Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.

Job 42:2
I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

2 Chronicles 20:6
and he said, "O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.

Isaiah 43:13
Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?

Isaiah 46:
Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12
Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.


Ephesians 1:11-12
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.