His Plans Are Better Than Mine

Sometimes I know exactly what the week’s message should be before the weekend, but at other times, I really have to pause and reflect.  On Friday, I came home and changed to go for a walk so that I could reflect on the week’s occurrences, what we discussed in Bible study and the applications to my life.  In hindsight, this should not have been necessary as the applications were very clear.  The whole of our 2021, thus far, has been about moving.  This week, on Monday, April 12, we finally moved into our new home!  We could not be more excited and satisfied.  

Throughout the study of Genesis, I have felt as if Scripture has met me right where we were.  When we read about Abraham and Lot deciding to separate amicably, we were making the decision to list.  Our home and neighbors had become like family, after 15 years, but we thought a separation was best.  Once the search for a new home became difficult, and we wanted to change our minds and stay, I was reminded of Lots’ wife who looked back and God turned her into a pilar of salt - we trudged on.  When it became clear that we would not find a new home in time for a simple transition from one home to another, that was the week we read about Jacob having to sleep in the wilderness with his head on a rock.  I cannot tell you the fear this mother had.  My children said, “Mom, we’re going to be homeless if you don’t stop being so picky about a house.  This place is also where Jacob found God (Bethel). 

Call me crazy to even notice this, but my addresses since leaving my parents’ home have been 8306, 576 and 286.  Our apartment number was 306.  That final 6 gave me confirmation that this was where God intended for us to be.  We didn’t know how long, and prayed it would be short, but I felt better about it due to the address.  

While in the apartment, we read Genesis 27 in which Jacob deceived his brother Esau to steal his blessing, previously he had made an unscrupulous deal with him over a bowl of soup to give away his birthright.  As Jacob’s story continued, in Genesis 29 Jacob works for Laban for 7 years in order that he be allowed to marry Rachel.  At the end of the time, Laban deceitfully gave him Leah in marriage.  When Jacob confronts him about this, he says he can have Rachel at the end of the wedding week, but must work another 7 years.  While in the apartment, I was the victim of someone’s deceit.  We see the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau after 20 years.  

Later Jacob’s youngest and favorite son, Joseph, is sold into slavery by his brothers.  By the time we read this, we had a new home, well a home built in 1979, under contract, and I truly felt like I was a slave to the lender.  They were heavily scrutinizing my banking accounts, questioning me, they wanted tax records from the past several years, paycheck stubs, employment verifications, etc.  Ultimately, God reveals to Pharaoh in two separate dreams that Egypt would experience 7 years of plentiful harvest followed by 7 years of severe famine.  Pharaoh, however, didn’t understand the meaning of these dreams on his own - he summoned the help of a Hebrew slave named Joseph who called on the God of Abraham to reveal the meaning of the dreams.  Pharaoh was so alarmed by the revelation that he knew he needed to act fast and put someone in charge of developing a system to use the grain efficiently during the 7 years of plenty that they would not all perish during the 7 years of famine.  He chose the 20-year enslaved Hebrew for the task.  God moved Jospeh from slavery to Pharaoh’s top official.  

Two years into the famine, who came to buy grain but his brothers who had sold him into slavery, now 22 years ago!   His brothers did not recognize him and he put them to the test.  He wanted to know if they had changed.  When he finally revealed himself, his words brought me to tears!  He said, “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”  
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This passage brought me to tears because so often things happen in life that we do not understand.  We endure things that do not seem fair.  We suffer through times of less, times of loss, we hurt, and we grieve.  We wonder why.  This passage shows Joseph’s maturity in the Lord.  He fully realizes the truth of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  On Friday, as I walked, I realized the same.  Our two moves were for several reasons.  One reason was to cleanse our pallet.  My children had only experienced one home in their life and to move from one to another would mean constant comparisons.  With our new home being older, something I wanted, this one would fall short.  The boys love the house - they didn’t even fight over which bedroom would be theirs!  I can now envision the previous owners of this house contemplating their move at the same time we were moving out of our house and praying a home would list at a similar price, as our move was not accompanied by a pay increase!  When I first toured this property I noticed all of the shrubs inside the backyard fence which decreased the usable area of the yard.  I thought about having someone come take it all down so that we could see and use the entire yard.  By the time we closed and moved, I realized the folly of my thinking - those are pink, red, and white azaleas and they are blooming - my favorite variation of colors!  These shrubs inside the fence have become the dogs’ happy place, they run behind those shrubs like they are in the wilderness!  God is so good.  I surrender.  His plans are WAY better than mine!


(About the address...This address does not end in 6...  In Genesis we saw Jacob work for 7 years followed by another 7 years.  We saw Pharaoh's dream that Egypt would experience 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine.  During the time we lived in the apartment, I found two 4-leaf clovers - I had never found one prior to these two!  They say this means I will be lucky - I don’t know about that, but we are abundantly blessed!  Seven is supposedly the lucky number.  Seven is also the number of completion.  177 is our new address - we are complete and we will take it!  Thank you, Lord!!!)

​Take time to reflect this week!  Amen!
​Kim