Does God Have a Plan?
Isaiah 45:11-14 (ESV)
11 Thus says the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:
“Ask me of things to come;
will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?
12 I made the earth
and created man on it;
it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,
and I commanded all their host.
13 I have stirred him up in righteousness,
and I will make all his ways level;
he shall build my city
and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,”
says the Lord of hosts.
The LORD, the Only Savior
14 Thus says the Lord:
“The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,
and the Sabeans, men of stature,
shall come over to you and be yours;
they shall follow you;
they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.
They will plead with you, saying:
‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other,
no god besides him.’”
Digging into God’s Word
Long before these events occurred for the Israelites, God had a detailed plan in place. He knew the man He would raise up as ruler of Persia (Cyrus), who would let the Israelites return to their country. He knew the nationalities that would become subservient to Israel. He spoke these words through Isaiah before the Israelites were even taken into captivity in Babylon.
So it is with our lives. God has intricate plans in place for us. As we walk with Him and listen to His voice, He guides us to cross paths with people we are to pour into and people who will pour into us.
As I have been navigating some changes in my life, I have been floundering to figure out the path and the timing. Many people have offered advice, and very little of it has resonated with me. As God would have it, I was on a long-awaited bike tour, and on the ride into one of our daily destinations, I just so happened to end up riding side by side with a woman who, in the course of our conversation, suggested a course of action that seemed viable. It was the first time I had heard advice that my internal senses rose to rather than closed off.
It took getting me on vacation in the boot heel of Missouri to hear perhaps part of God’s plan. Where and how might God speak to you this week?
Digging Deeper
As you are able, spend time with God, reflecting on these questions or journaling your thoughts.
- Don’t you wish we would get a road map from God saying, “Turn here,” “Slow down,” “Do this,” “Nope, don’t do that”? Part of the problem might be that we rarely take long stints of time to listen to Him. I know this is the case with me. Spend some time listening for God’s direction for whatever you are facing today.
- What in your future concerns you? Ask God to help you trust Him for His perfect plan. Ask Him to make pieces of the plan clear to you.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. ~Isaiah 30:21
3. Praise God for His sovereignty. Thank Him that He has a plan.
Extra Info!
Have you missed any devotions in the series on Isaiah 44 and 45? You can find them here. I have found it so interesting how God’s word spoken through Isaiah to the Israelites can take on meaning for our daily lives.
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