Why should we pray for government authorities? First, God, according to His ultimate purpose, controls who rules over us. Because God authorizes or decides who will rule (good, bad, or whatever), we are admonished to have respect for civil authority, affirming our assent to law and order. Secondly, rebellion and disobedience have no place in God's plan for us. Jesus demonstrated the proper respect and submission to civil authority, realizing that God the Father had the ultimate responsibility for all governmental authority. Joseph realized that God ordained all the seemingly calamitous events that happened to him for a purpose. We need to follow their examples of respect and submission to authority.