God Will Always Have His Way

Verse of the day: Genesis 25:23 And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.”

Here begins the story of two brothers and two nations. Traditionally, the oldest male inherits a double portion in comparison to his younger siblings. However, we see from the outset that God already had a plan for these two brothers that tradition was not going to supersede, and man’s plans would not change. As we read the story of Esau and Jacob, we see that God uses their weaknesses, and their even their deceit, to accomplish His plan. Our God is the God who directs nations. Psalm 22:8 tells us that He rules over the nations. Daniel 2:21 tells us that He removes kings and establishes kings. Job 12:23 tells us that He makes nations great, and destroys them. Jeremiah 27:5-6 tells us that it was God, by His great power, who gave the lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; and even called him His servant. Acts 4:27-28 reminds us that it was God who allowed Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the Jews, to crucify Jesus as He had already predestined. If God has this much control over the nations of this world, why do we live as if God does not have a plan for us, or as if He cannot guide us on the path He has already set for us? The problem with walking on the path God has set for us is that we, too often, want to walk on a path we have decided on, and set for ourselves. We choose the path of least resistance, or that path that seems most lucrative, or the one that requires the least amount of sacrifice, while allowing us to appear, outwardly, as if we are dedicated to serving God. Sadly, there are too many born again believers that are walking on a path set by the world, and by their own desires, who are far from doing what God has truly called them to do. Brothers and sisters, the blessings we miss out on; the opportunities to share Christ and lead some to Him, the opportunities to glorify God by being a blessing to others, that we miss by not staying on the path God has for us. Nonetheless, even if we have taken a detour in our walk with the Lord, His plan will always come to fruition. Even in our detours, when we encounter the hardships He allows to get our attention, He still gives us the opportunity to grow in our faith, and intimacy with Him, and get back on the path He has set for us. Proverbs 16:9 tells us that we make our plans, but God directs our steps. Proverbs 19:21 tells us that we have many plans in our hearts, but it is the counsel of God that will stand. Jeremiah 10:23 puts it this way, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” Let us do all we can today, to re-examine our motives for serving God. Let us stop and ask ourselves, am I trying to live out God’s plan for my life, or am I trying to live out my own? How much of our life is truly dedicated to serving God, His way? In the end, we do not want to look back on our life and realize that we took far too many detours, ones that cost us heavenly reward, because we kept insisting on doing things our way, rather than prayerfully seeking God’s direction for our lives. We will see from the lives of these two brothers, especially Jacob’s, that even when we plan and scheme, God will accomplish what He has already determined He will do with us, even if it means that we finish it limping across the finish line.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).