Tag: Plan

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When we can’t see a solution.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.” Genesis‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Genesis 24 is the grand story of “a wife for Issac.” Genesis 23 closes with Sarah’s death at 127 years old and Abraham purchasing the perfect burial place for his beloved.

This chapter opens with two facts: One, Abraham is super old and God has blessed him immensely! But there is one major problem hanging over the patriarchal promise to Abraham – Issac.

Issac is not the actual problem, but the fact that he is now 37 years old, makes him a kind of “past his prime, bachelor. “ What happened? The relationship pool for Isaac was entirely and solely Canaanite women – a “no go” for the son of promise! Here’s the dilemma, Ab is old, now Isaac is aging quickly as well. There doesn’t seem to be a supernatural solution to a big human problem. Since Isaac is clearly the carrier of hope for the plan of God, wouldn’t you expect some kind of miraculous intervention? Why didn’t God send the woman of Issac’s dreams and the fulfillment of God’s promise to Canaan?

Abram marrying his own wife, Sarai seemed completely unexpected, if not just random. In Genesis 11, we find the that Abram married Sarai. We also find that Terah, was THEIR father. Abram’s wife Sarai was his half-sister, Terah’s daughter. When God called Abram to leave Haran to head towards Canaan, Sarai happily went with him. Abram and Sarai had experienced so many miracles to get them to this point in Genesis 24. The heaven fell silent.

Because Abraham realized his own age and that Isaac had not yet had been a successful suitor, he made a plan. He asks his most trusted servant and loyal friend to swear to finding a wife for Isaac. Abram makes him promise to not allow Isaac to marry one of the locals and sends him all the way back to distant Aram-naharaim. Abram’s servant asked a great question, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?” Abraham was vehemently opposed to this; “He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.” The rest of the story is a beautiful, quite romantic miracle, that eventually leads Abraham’s servant to bring Rebekah home to meet Issac.

So what’s the point? There are many lessons to be learned here. I believe this is a great example of what happens when we know God has a plan and maybe even a promise, yet we see no movement, no answers out there. Abraham was in this same dilemma for a moment. But what happened? Abraham made a plan. And, he was very specific about what he wanted. A wife for his son, from his own tribe that is willing to leave her family and in faith come to marry someone she’s never met nor ever heard of. I love that Abraham even told his servant that there would be a supernatural assist in the process! “He (God) will send his angel ahead of you.” And that’s exactly what happened.

When I read this story, I see the fulfillment of one of my favorite Proverb – 16:9, ”The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Maybe not all promises are fulfilled through miracles from heaven. What if God is waiting for our faith and a solid plan? Have you heard a promise from God? Do you feel that He has called you to be something or do something, but you’ve seen no movement, no action? Do what Abraham did and so many others after him – make a godly plan and go for it. You’ll find that as your foot rises in faith, and returns, just before hitting the path of your destiny – that God has restructured your future to make your path straight.

Prayer

Dad,
Oh, what a wonder you are! You are not only the way maker, you are the path straightener. You are good. You are faithful to your Word and your promises are true and trustworthy. Thank you for your patient love towards us. Amen.

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Keystone of purpose.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the Psalms, there is a lot of reference and reflection on the daily activities during those ancient days. So, in these songs, that means there is quite a bit of time spent on conflicts in relationships, or over land and even buildings. There are numerous references to war. Also, family and relationship dynamics all in a “kingdom” motif. And if human struggles weren’t enough, there was also the pressure to gain and keep land, as well as build forts, castles, temples, along with walls and intricate systems to protect cities.

At first, I thought about how difficult it must have been to get, keep and maintain both relationships and structures back then. Then I realized, we do similar today. There are still massive relationship struggles, some are power based, some just dealing with position, or betrayal. And, we may not all be dictators, leaders, presidents or monarchs, but we all have a place in society, all have some sense of responsibility and desire to move upward in power, position or even purpose. So, although we don’t currently speak in terms of war, subterfuge or kingdom maintenance, we all still struggle with human relationships and our plot of dirt, owned, rented or leased.

When Nathan is chastising King David and restoring him after repentance, David writes this Psalm bemoaning the difficulty in leading even after conquering all those who sought to take his kingdom, and capturing Jerusalem itself. In all this, David prophetically speaks of this special stone that goes in the foundation and becomes the most important structural piece of the entire building. The cornerstone. It wasn’t just a ceremonial brouhaha, like the picturesque shovel-shot when construction begins. No, it was the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. It was both physically and metaphorically important to get it right.

Here David, somewhat referring to himself as the rags-to-riches, shepherd to sovereign story, sets the unusual significance of the moment. No one expected a field boy to become the critical component for the nation’s success! But this phrase, “stone that the builders rejected” became the prophetic picture of Christ. The normal, if not below average guy from Nazareth, who would become the anchor, THE cornerstone. The reference by which all human beings since the beginning of time would be placed in this world determined by Jesus.

Our lives, our future is not determined by accident, nor by our whim or choice. Our purpose is not discovered, nor achieved by just throwing a stone into a building, wherever we feel like it may fit. Our stone, our life, our mark is made in direct positioning to Christ and where God determines where we should be placed. Our absolute joy and purpose is only found, can only be found, in position to where Christ is, as the keystone of all humanity.

Prayer

Dad,
I may not completely understand the architectural necessity and meaning of the cornerstone, but I do understand my place according to who Christ is! I have found not just who I belong to, but also where I belong in this life and the Kingdom of God. I have been placed for a purpose! I gladly serve at your good pleasure. Lead me, use me wherever you see fit. I am thankful to submit to all that you have for me. Amen.

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Despising our own designs.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This moment, recorded in history, was a highly celebrated moment. Not just for Sarah and Abraham, but for all of us as well. Why would we need to celebrate a miracle of overcoming infertility and God coming through on His promise to this antique couple? Because, God’s promise to Abram, wasn’t just for this random, ancient bedouin leader. It was for all the human beings and all the promises thereafter! If nothing else, history teaches us the facts about God’s ability and trustworthiness to keep his promises to all humankind.

Yet, in this brief moment of celebration, there is also this disturbingly deep moment of human frailty, of weakness, of bitterness. When we force God’s promise by making something happen by pure human will and desire – the consequences are devastating. Abraham and Sarah had already made their own “child of promise” because they did not trust God’s timing! Note that Moses wrote about Isaac’s birth, “this happened at just the time God had said it would.” But God’s time is NOT our time! We get itchy, impatient, and impulsive. Thus, we scheme and create our own plan… “just in case,” we tell ourselves. What a mess we make of things.

Sarah harassing Abraham to get busy with making a baby with Hagar, was just supposed to be a backup plan. Because, obviously, God was running out of womb-time with Sarah? Abraham too easily complied! No sex puns necessary here. As soon as the “deed” was done, Sarah was immediately torn. “She” had given themselves an heir, but knowing that her husband had known this other woman, this young servant in their family was more bitter than expected. Sarah knew it, but so did Hagar. It’s recorded, in ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, “So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!” Sarah & Abraham’s plan started deteriorating immediately.

Here in this celebratory moment of Isaac being born, Abraham throws a massive party. And at this party, things go sideways for the family. The moment is captured in this one little verse, ”But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.“ Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬. But wait! There is a critical note that some versions capture. The Hebrew word her is “tsachaq,” to laugh. But it is often translated as “mocking,” or “scoffing.” Was Hagar mocking Sarah and her newborn baby? Yeah, it’s absolutely possible. Did Sarah see Hagar laughing and just interpret her levity as some kind of leverage of power in the family dynamic? That’s possible as well. All I know is these moments clearly tell me that there was deep jealousy mixed with remorse for the decisions that were made fourteen years earlier. Now, here at the party, all that conniving and convincing Abraham to “go into,” (euphemism for sex) “my servant,” no longer seemed like a good plan.

How many times have we decided to help God out by designing our own plans, “just in case” God didn’t come through on a promise? And, how many times have we completely regretted, even despised those plans when they turned out to be a disaster or a massive disappointment? When will we learn to trust God, not just with His plans, but also His timing. It’s tough! Wisdom tells us to make plans, but let God direct our steps. Our plans must not only be prayerfully made, but held lightly! For God will lead. God will direct. If we would be patient with both His fulfillment and timing.

Prayer

Dad,
Normally, this would be just a great lesson on decision making, and trust, in how and when You direct our lives. But this is more than just a lesson! I have seen many friends wreck their own lives by trying to get what they want, or even impatiently try to get what you have promised. Life seems to be filled with chasing dreams and opportunities, but sometimes having disastrous results. It’s not just with friends though. I have personally experienced these moments to grasp an opportunity, only to discover it was NOT your will or your way. I have often felt the pressure to give up on faith in a promise when things looked difficult or impossible! Of course, I am thankful for your mercy and your supernatural ability to work out all things for good, even when I have botched it, or missed it. I would rather trust you on the front end, rather than trusting you after looking at all the calamity I had caused. Your ways are always good because You are good. Amen.

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Passion vs planning.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.” Proverbs‬ ‭19:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I would think that passion makes the world go around. However, without a deep understanding of a problem, the history of its journey and the people involved, change will not take place. The new phrase is “change comes at the speed of trust,” but relationships, good feels and passion won’t give a solution or an idea enough traction for the long-haul known as deep change.

Passion does inspire. Passion, or enthusiasm (Greek: in God, filled with God) gives hope and lifts the soul to perk up and see a preferred future. But, without a plan, or knowledge as the wisdom writers put it, I find no path, no roadmap of where all the excitement is supposed to lead.

I Imagine a track star shooting off the starting block to race towards the finish line only to find there is no finish line, no track, no path. Instead she just runs in competitive fashion, filled with heightened adrenaline-fueled passion with no direction at all! The track, the route, the path and most importantly, the finish line IS the well marked plan, with a photo-finish ending. With no knowledge, no plan, it just results in wandering and possibly getting lost.

The Hebrew word for enthusiasm here is nephesh: a feminine noun. Meaning a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, or emotion. And the Hebrew word for mistakes is chata: to miss, go wrong, sin.

Prayer

Dad,
I would like both please! Knowledge and passion. I love the energy of passion that drives the clarity of knowledge or a plan. I want both because I need both. I would also love it if you could throw in wisdom, which James says I lack because I don’t ask. I am asking for wisdom as well. These are the things necessary for me to lead. Not just my life, but those you have called me to shepherd to, to care for and love. Help me get them where you want us to go and to be who you want us to be along the way. Thank you in advance.