When God Says “No” to Plan B
Have you ever reached for your backup plan before seeking God's direction? I certainly have. It's a struggle as old as faith itself, and we see it vividly illustrated in the lives of the patriarchs.
When famine struck Canaan, Abraham, the father of faith, immediately packed for Egypt. No prayer. No seeking God's counsel. Just a practical solution to a pressing problem: "And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land" (Genesis 12:10).
Egypt, with its Nile-watered fields and abundant storehouses, represented a visible solution. But Abraham's self-directed detour led to compromise. Fearing for his life, he instructed Sarah: "Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee" (Genesis 12:13).
When the Thorn Remains
The garden outside our Welsh cottage is small but lovely. However, interspersed among the beauty are thorns. Nasty, prickly thorns that seem to appear from nowhere and everywhere all at once.
A few days ago, Tess came bounding into the house from her garden adventures, but instead of her usual exuberance, she limped across the floor, frantically licking her front paw. Jason scooped her up immediately, cradling her like a baby to examine the source of her distress.
"There it is," he announced, pointing to an enormous thorn embedded deeply in the pad of her paw. "This is going to hurt, girl."
As if understanding his words, Tess began to squirm and whimper, but Jason held her firmly. With one swift movement, he extracted the thorn. Tess yelped, then immediately relaxed in his arms.
Partridges, Promises, and Peace
I never thought I'd write a devotion about partridges, but here we are. You see, I'd always pictured partridges as elegant birds, similar to doves. But when I saw a couple in my yard the other day, I was in for a surprise. These birds were round, more like a bowling ball than a dove. It got me thinking about how often our expectations don't match reality.
Consider the story of Sarah and Abraham, a tale of God’s unwavering faithfulness. Despite their old age and childlessness, God promised them a son. Sarah, in her disbelief, even laughed at the news. Yet, God kept His promise, and they were blessed with a son, Isaac. It wasn’t what they expected, but it was far better than they could have imagined.
Obedience Over Insight
Alright, let's dive back into Mark 2:1-12, shall we? I mean, can you blame me for wanting to hang out with these roof-tearing, friend-carrying guys a little longer?
Now, let's zero in on the moment when Jesus told the paralyzed man, "Arise, take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house." (Mark 2:11 KJV) I don't know about you, but if I were that guy, I'd be thinking, "Uh, Jesus, have you noticed I can't walk?" But what did he do? He didn't question, he didn't hesitate, he didn't even try to figure it out. He just got up and walked, just like that.
Man Plans; God Directs
Eager to hit the hiking trails last week, Jason and I checked the forecast for the best day. Friday showed sun, while Saturday predicted snow, so Friday it was!
After breakfast on Friday morning, we were greeted by rain showers mixed with fat snowflakes instead of sunshine. "No problem," we shrugged. “It’s Wales! Wet weather is just part of the charm. Besides, as usual, the rain will likely come and go in short bursts.” You can probably guess where this is headed.
Despite the continuing wintry mix, we stuck with Plan A, trudging up muddy slopes in worsening snow and sleet for hours. Slipping in sodden boots with freezing fingers, I muttered, “Maybe we should've waited till tomorrow." By the time we stumbled back to the car, I was as drenched and weary.