Week 43 – Proverbs 16:9

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In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. – Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. – Proverbs 16:9 (KJV)

52 Proverbs in 52 Weeks – Week 43
This week’s theme:  God’s Life Hacks, simple Biblical truths to increase the fruitfulness and happiness of our lives.

God’s Life Hack:  Remember that God is in Control

Last week’s life hack was Plan for the Future.  This week we add an important “but” to complete that thought:
Plan for the Future, but … Remember that God is in Control

Our previous post discussed Joseph’s preparation for the Famine in Egypt as an example of diligently planning for the future.  This week we turn to Joseph again, but this time as an example of remembering that God is always in control.

Genesis 37-50 tells most of Joseph’s life story and it’s an amazing story of God’s providence.  I’m sure Joseph had grand plans for his future when he was growing up.  We don’t know what his plans were, but they might have included thoughts like this:

  • Grow up with my family and live on my father’s land in Canaan
  • Work hard with my brothers to tend my family’s flocks and crops
  • Inherit a portion of my father’s land
  • Get married and start a family of my own
  • Work hard to grow my family’s wealth and resources in Canaan
  • …and so on

Joseph probably had a plan, but the LORD “established his steps.”  And those steps traversed a very different path than what Joseph expected.  He was:

  • Betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery
  • Falsely accused of attacking his master’s wife
  • Thrown into prison and forgotten there for years
  • Brought out of prison to help Pharaoh
  • Put in charge or preparing all of Egypt for a famine
  • Responsible for saving his family and all of Egypt from the famine

Wow…what a life story.  Throughout all of the adversity he faced, Joseph remained faithful and trusted that God was in control.  And God’s plan led to greater blessings and prosperity than Joseph ever could have imagined.

As we discussed last week, it’s smart to plan for the future.  However, as Joseph’s life illustrates, we must always remember that God is ultimately in control.  His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways (see Isaiah 55:8), but we know His plans are good (Jeremiah 29:11).

Here’s a link to more verse posts on  God’s Life Hacks.

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