God's Plan & Providence
Isa 55:8-9 8"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
What does God reveals about His plan in these verses?
What is God's ultimate plan for us?
Growth → Jesus the head! PRIMARILY the plan of God is salvation of whole mankind & their GROWTH towards being like Jesus Christ! (Eph 4:15)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:3-4)
Going back to Jer
Jer 21:8-9 8"Now you shall say to this people, Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him."
(Jer 29:4-7,10-14) 4Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters; that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
29:10 For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
What was God's plan for peace?
Why did God allow them to go into adversity for His plan to work?
Can Lord lead us into adversity to make His plan come to pass?
Interesting quotation - Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.
Remember when the apostles cling together rather than going out to the ends of the world to evangelise, the Lord had to send persecution to disperse them and through it a zealous persecutor became His apostle!
Can we live a careless life? Why discern if everything is in God's plan?
May avoid unnecessary pain & trouble!
Through discernment, we should understand:
- This is a fallen world sinking in sin
- Our own foolishness can cause problems
- attack of the evil one for our destruction
BUT => God's plan for our goodness!
How can we be sure that God's plan is good?
Eph 2:8-10 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Eph 1:17-23 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Is God totally in control of every situation?
God works strangely-slow → but he make victims into victors!
Unlike us going to plan B when plan A fails, His plan is a perfect plan that never needs any change!
Can random events possibly affect the plan for children of God?
Randomness: occurring without a specific pattern, plan or connection
Even an event as casual and seen as random chance, is not just chance, but something already determined by the Lord!
Pro 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
What happens if God punishes all instantly (thereby preventing evil)?
- everyone will live in fear of life
- Our obedience will be from selfish motives than reverence/love
- no body will live eventually!
We should keep in mind that we may not have all the detailed answers all the time, BUT
- we should seek Him & His will
- try listening to God & His messengers
- we must 'care' about others
Jesus taught us to walk the 'narrow way' and we can be sure that God will not allow anything beyond our ability. Bec. what can cause trouble is only rebellion with our will against God's will.
11Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Cor 10:11-13)
Biblical examples as proof:
Peter: 3 time denial → Jesus looked at him reminding him of his sin by which he could repent (Lk 22: 61-62). Did not let him sink in Galilee, but pulled him out of water! (Mt 14: )
Job: satan argued with God, He allowed, but was in control! (Job 1:12, 2:6)
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
This is the story that repeats again and again in the scriptures!
What is providence?
When God has a plan, He also has a timing for that. And His timing is perfect: We call God's timely act as providence!
Children of Israel: Mana, quail, water, cloud/fire etc in the desert
David – not killed when Saul, the war-hero threw javelin at him, twice!!
Joseph – raised to the governorship in Egypt saving Israel when his life would've been ended as a slave!
Gen 50:19-20 19Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."
Written for our admonition, so we may trust in Him!
Deu 29:29 "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
David was sure about God's plan & providence: “14I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. ... 16Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” (Ps 139:14, 16)
Job was also trusting in the same:
Job 14:1,5 1"Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. 5Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass."
Ps 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Meditation:
- Do I've the security that God's plan is working in my life?
- Are there obstacles/ troubles that causes doubts about His plan?
 |
 |