The bombing of the English city of Coventry by the German Air Force in November of 1940 was devastating. Much of the city was destroyed. Almost 600 people died.

Years later, a man associated with British military intelligence wrote a book with a blockbuster revelation. He claimed that Prime Minister Winston Churchill knew that the raid was coming. England had broken the German military’s Enigma Code and had intercepted German radio communication.

Churchill was informed, but decided not to warn the city of Coventry. He did not want extra defenses put up, and he didn’t want the people to be warned. If those measures had been taken, the Germans would have known that England had broken their top-secret code. Churchill reasoned that the ability to hear and understand what the Germans were saying in secret was more important in the long run than the lives of the people who would die in Coventry. The prime minister believed that such knowledge would ultimately help to win the war and save hundreds of thousands of lives.

This version of things was the dominant view among the British for about thirty years. Then others came out saying that Churchill hadn’t known all the details of the impending raid. England had broken the code, and Churchill knew a bombing raid was coming, but the radio communication did not indicate where it would take place.

I wonder what the families of those who lost family members at Coventry think. For thirty years, they believed that Churchill had known what would happen, but that he had said nothing. His silence cost their loved ones’ lives. Even today, which version of the story do they believe? Even if the evidence points to Churchill’s ignorance, do the descendants of the dead believe it? I suppose some of them might conclude that even if Churchill did know, he made the right decision for the nation as a whole. Others, I am sure, would detest the secrets that those in power keep and say that Churchill would have warned his family if they had lived in Coventry. Most of the families probably hate the corruption they are sure exists in the government.

I sure am glad I’ve never been placed in such a position of responsibility. Can you imagine what it must have been like for Churchill if he did know? I have no idea of how I would have handled such a decision. The weight of that decision would have been like having ten elephants on your shoulders. Even if Churchill didn’t know about Coventry, I’m sure there were times during WW II when leaders did know secrets and had to make those kinds of decisions.

In Prov 25:3, Solomon talks about those faced with such responsibility. He says, “As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the heart of the king is unsearchable.” One thing expressed in this proverb is that the king knows things his citizens do not understand. He keeps some things secret. When he makes a decision—even one that involves life and death—sometimes he cannot let the people know why. Shakespeare said it this way: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

What would you think if your child had died at Coventry? Would you trust the decision made by Churchill? Would you believe him when he said he didn’t know? We live in a world where it is easy to question the motives of leaders. We might wonder whether some decisions were made because those leaders were bribed. Maybe they make a decision simply to keep power or to make money for themselves. Maybe they care about my family. Maybe they don’t.

These questions have been asked throughout history, even today. We will never know for sure the motives of those placed in political power. Solomon reminds us that there are things we don’t know about the decisions they make. Some things should remain hidden from public knowledge. If Churchill did know about Coventry, one can certainly argue that that was a case in point.

But it sure would be frustrating if one of your family members was killed because of a secret like that. Be glad you didn’t wear the crown. But be glad about something else. One day a King will come and reign forever and ever. I know I won’t know the reasons for some of the decisions He will make. Neither will you. His heart will certainly be “unsearchable.” But there will be no doubt that every decision will be a perfect one. We will not wonder whether there was a bribe or some other ulterior motive. Every decision will flow from the One who is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). That is a King and a kingdom to look forward to.