Readings for today: Genesis 29-31, Psalm 9
I don’t know about you but I am a planner. In fact, I make backup plans to my backup plans just in case my original plans don’t come through. I plan out each day. I plan out each week. I plan out each year. I have three year plans and five year plans. I have a professional plan. I have a financial plan. My wife and I have a plan for our family. We teach our kids to plan. We are working with our parents on their plans. Planning is a good thing, of course, but only if it is surrendered to the Lord. Ultimately, we can put together our best laid plans but it is the Lord’s plan for our lives that matters most. That’s why I try to hold onto my plans loosely. Walk with open hands before the Lord because He has a way of changing my plans along the way.
In our story today, it’s clear that everyone has a plan. Jacob has a plan. Leah has a plan. Rachel has a plan. Laban has a plan. Each of their plans is based on what they believe is best for them. Each of them is after something and they are willing to do just about anything to achieve those ends. Jacob has a plan for a wife and a family. Leah has a plan to earn her husband’s affection and love. Rachel has a plan for children to end the shame over her barren condition. Laban has a plan to use Jacob to grow his wealth. They compete. They deceive. They lie. They steal. They scheme. It’s striking to note that none of them seeks the Lord for His plan for their lives. They simply assume God is with them. (As an aside, how often do we make the same mistake in asking God to bless our plans rather than seek His plan?)
Finally, God intervenes. He makes His plan known to Jacob. Once again, it involves returning to the Promised Land. Returning back to the original plan God first gave to Abraham and Sarah. Returning back to the place God has given him and his family. “I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.’” (Genesis 31:13 CSB) No matter where we go or what we do, God is faithful. He will use all our decisions and all our choices and all our experiences - good, bad, or ugly - to bring about His sovereign will for our lives. God’s plan is for Abraham’s family to inherit the Promised Land. God’s plan is for Abraham’s family to establish themselves in the Promised Land in order to bless the nations of the earth. God’s plan is to grow Abraham’s family until they outnumber the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. No matter what Abraham’s family does, God will make sure His plan comes to pass and this should bring us great comfort.
God has a plan for your life as well. He has made promises to you that He will bring to pass no matter what. This doesn’t mean we should take Him for granted or ignore Him or dismiss Him and do our own thing. There are consequences for the choices we make. The consequences for Jacob and Laban and Leah and Rachel were significant and painful. But when we align our plans with God’s plan for our lives, there is blessing and joy and fulfillment and peace. Before you make your plan for today, take some time and ask God to show you His plans for you.
Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 32-34, Psalm 10