How to reconcile God’s will and our own plans

God has a very good plan for each of our lives.  We can, however, get impatient and decide to do it our own way.  There are examples in Scripture to show the difference.

#  Biblical examples of how three people handled God’s plan for their lives

• Jeroboam.  He was appointed by God as the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  He took matters into his own hands to establish his throne.  He made two golden calves for the people to worship, so that they would not go down to Jerusalem to worship God in the Temple there. ¹ Because he decided on this course, the prophet warned him that his family would not last.
• Baasha killed Nadab, son of Jeroboam. Baasha assassinated Nadab and became king in his place.  He killed all Jeroboam’s relatives.  God said to him, ‘I lifted you up from the dust and made you leader of my people Israel, but….’ ²  God definitely did not intend Baasha to murder to achieve God’s plan for his life.
• David.  He gives us a wonderful example of dependence on God.  The first king of Israel, Saul, did not obey God, and God anointed David as his successor, through the prophet Samuel. ³  Because of jealousy, Saul viciously persecuted David and tried to kill him.  On two occasions David had the opportunity to get rid of Saul. ⁴  Yet he refrained, because he understood that Saul was God’s anointed.

#  The similarity in the three cases

• God appointed David, Jeroboam and Baasha as leaders.
• Each one had the free will to decide if he will trust God, or do things his own way.

If Jeroboam and Baasha allowed God to act in His good time, they would have been in His perfect will.  David chose not to take matters into his own hands, despite God’s promise that he would be the next king.  He waited patiently for God to fulfil His promise in His own good time.  That happened when Saul and his three sons (the possible successors of Saul) were all killed in the battle with the Philistines. ⁵

Conclusion

God has a plan for each of our lives.  We are free to follow our own way, or to ‘work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in [us] to will and to act according to His good purpose.’ ⁶

References

1. 1 Kings 12:25-33
2. 1 Kings 16:2
3. 1 Samuel 16:1-13
4. 1 Samuel 24:1-7; 26:1-12
5. 1 Samuel 31:1-6
6. Philippians 2:12-13