Trusting God’s Plans Even When They Make No Sense at All
Is God wise? Yes, He is! Is He ever wrong? No, never! Is everything He does good, for our best and His honor? One hundred percent, yes. But do we always understand His ways and plans? No, we don’t. Why? Because He’s God. And although He loves us, is with us and for us, He is not like us. The truth is, His ways, thoughts and plans are significantly higher than ours. This is why we are called to always trust Him, even when His plans make no sense at all.
God’s Unique Plans
If you’ve read the Bible at any length, then you are aware that God's plans are unique to Him. They are original, specific, deliberate and purposeful. Although He doesn’t require us to understand His plans, He does expect us to faithfully follow His plans in whatever way He may lead. Throughout the story of the Bible, and still today, God repeatedly reveals His plans to an individual or whole groups through His Word and by His Spirit. Many of these plans are on a massive God-sized scale, and most of these plans make no sense at all, at least not in the present tense. The truth is, God’s plans are best understood over time through the lens of history.
Joshua’s Second Assignment
As the newly installed leader of Israel, Joshua was tasked with the colossal assignment of possessing the promised land. His first assignment, leading the Israelites across the Jordan River was no small feat. Yet God provided a miracle, parted the waters, and the entire nation walked through the river on dry ground! And as astounding as this was, it wasn’t something new to Joshua, as he’d already crossed the Red Sea under the direction of Moses.
His second assignment however, was uniquely different. And although it wouldn’t require him to walk through water, it would require that he walk through Jericho, a city surrounded by an impenetrable wall, making it impossible for anyone to enter or exit, let alone take possession of.
The Solution
While the wall created a serious obstacle for Joshua, it was never a problem for God; nothing ever is. Instead, God had a solution, a plan in fact, that would guarantee Joshua’s access through the city. And to be clear, this plan did not include a surprise attack, nor did it include any weapons. Instead, it required the entire Israelite army to march silently around the city wall for six consecutive days, along with priests blowing trumpets, and the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, this same scenario would be repeated but would also include a unified shout. And this one massive shout, God promised, would result in the crumbling of the wall.
If you're struggling to connect any logic at all with this plan, I’m right there with you. But even greater, can you just imagine what Joshua’s thoughts were when God shared this plan with him!?
An Obedient Response/A Huge Victory!
If Joshua did question God’s plan, even slightly, we’ll never know. But what we do know is He listened to Yahweh intently, followed His plan explicitly, and the results were truly stellar. Just as God promised, the city wall was destroyed on day seven following the unified shout, allowing the Israelites to capture the city and everything in it. This historical, memorable, victorious day would be recounted for generations to come, as it is still today. And all of this was made possible, because one man, Joshua, led an entire army and nation to trust in God’s plan; a wonderful, miraculous, victorious plan that made no sense at all.
People Like Us
This story, like every story in Scripture, was recorded for people like us. While we may not be facing a structural wall as Joshua did, many of us are in fact facing physical, relational, financial or spiritual walls, making life challenging and seemingly impossible.
Yet we are reminded that the same God who had a plan for Joshua, also has a plan for us. And although our personal plans will probably not require marching, shouting or blowing a trumpet, they very well may require outrageous forgiveness, sincere humility, an abundance of patience, or joy in the face of sorrow. And this is never easy to do, especially during life’s hardships. Yet because we know how dearly God loves us, we can trust in His plans, even when they make no sense at all.
Pray
Father God, I acknowledge you as all wise, all knowing and all good. I recognize your ways, plans, decisions and purposes are far greater and infinitely higher than mine. In those times when I struggle to understand your plans, please empower me to trust you completely, knowing your ways are always best. I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Question of the Week
Can you think of a time when God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense to you? What was it? How did you respond?
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