not as planned
Life isn’t fair.
That phrase comes up often. When a situation occurs we don’t like or is out of our control, it can be easy to deflect to that mindset. It’s not what I envisioned or planned; and therefore, I don’t like it.
Feelings of neglect, lack of provision and care can surface, because after all, if it’s not on our time table or the seemingly perfect way, our needs are not being met.
If life were truly fair, God would have given us what we deserve: death.
Romans 6:23 makes that clear. “For the wages of sin is death.” BUT. “But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God extended grace and gave us the opportunity at life instead. If we accept this gift, we now cross from death to life, because we have someone who took that death penalty for us.
Life may not seem fair at times. But you are deeply cared and provided for. Extended grace upon grace no matter the circumstances.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in Genesis 22:1-19. This section of Scripture looks at the life of Abraham and his obedience to God when circumstances around him appeared confusing and bleak. Unfair even.
See, God promised Abraham would be a father of many nations. And while he and his wife, Sarah, were too old to have children, God promised Abraham would have a child. Abraham trusted the Lord in this situation despite the reality at hand. And God provided.
Yet, as Issac grew older, God told Abraham to take his son and sacrifice him.
Normally, this sacrifice would consist of a ram and would atone for or cover the sins of the people so they could be made right with God.
But this time, God wanted Abraham to sacrifice his son. The very gift God promised would bring about his ability to be a father of many nations, because of future descendants.
I’m sure this task seemed extremely unfair.
Let’s be honest, if I were in Abraham’s shoes, I probably would have dragged my feet, waited a couple of days, tried to bargain with God, and made sure I actually heard Him correctly.
My trust and confidence in God’s provision would have been pretty low.
However, what Abraham does is quite marvelous, and truly from the Lord’s strength.
Let me show you.
God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (phrases bolded for emphasis)
This story is an awe-inspiring act of obedience, regardless of the cost.
It is easy to look at a situation and feel as if God doesn’t care. The stakes are too high, and it will turn into disaster, because if it doesn’t appear good, then it can’t be.
Abraham had every right to disobey the Lord. To put his trust in something more understandable or visable.
But if Abraham had chosen to take his own way, he would have missed out on the blessing and favor of God.
Instead he gets up early in the morning! This guy is not wasting any time on the task assigned to him. And to top it off, he didn’t turn around or chicken out after journeying for three days. He had three days to contemplate if he would actually follow through with what the Lord told him to do.
Then he displays his confident trust in the Lord by telling the servants he and Issac would go worship on the mountain, and they would both return.
Abraham didn’t know how the Lord would care for him, but he did know what the Lord had promised.
And God does not break His promises.
Regardless of the circumstances you’re facing, know God has the whole picture. He cares for you and wants to provide.
Perhaps it simply means stepping out in obedience and trusting Him to do so.
~Laura