BEFORE YOU CONDEMN, CONSIDER THIS – GOD HAS PLANS (4)

Post date: Sep 16, 2020 11:20:58 PM

Sarah, after waiting twenty-five years for the promised child; after considering her old age and that of Abraham; after doing all she could physically, praying, and hearing what people said concerning her, she concluded within herself that the chances of ever getting to see the child God had promised was over, that the promise they have been waiting, praying, and hoping for from God will never come, that their trusting on God had been in vain. She condemned herself and her chances, but God did not condemn her or her chances. She did not know that despite all that was standing as evidence against her life, all the odds and old age, God’s plan will still work, and His plan did work and Sarah conceived even in her old age and saw Isaac her child. “Sarah said, God has brought me joy and laughter. Everyone who hears about it will laugh with me. Then she added, who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” Genesis 21:6-7

Job would have given up on God, condemned his acts of righteousness, and also condemn himself as his friends had suggested when he saw everything he had ever worked for in his entire life, everything he ever owned, every possession of his years of faithful labor, all of his children gone and left with nothing, Job refused to give up on God, refused to condemn righteousness, and refused to condemn himself. Unknown to Job and his three friends was the fact that God had plans for Job personally despite what Satan had done to him, to his family, to his wealth, to his businesses, and to his source of livelihood. “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yokes of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters.” Job 42:12-13. It was an unprecedented, unimaginable, and unthinkable restoration. Be assured, God has plans in place for you and He will do them. Don’t let go of righteousness; do not forsake faithfulness, and do not condemn yourself, God will do the unthinkable, trust firmly in Him.

When Hagar and her son Ishmael were thrown out of the house; when the little resources to keep them alive were exhausted, when she had lost all hope, and when the two of them were left wandering about in the wilderness of Beersheba waiting for the moment they will die of hunger and thirst, God showed up with His plans and a promise. “When the water was all gone, she left the child under a bush and sat down about a hundred yards away. She said to herself, I can't bear to see my child die. While she was sitting there, she began to cry. God heard the boy crying, and from heaven, the angel of God spoke to Hagar, what are you troubled about, Hagar? Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy crying. Get up, go and pick him up, and comfort him. I will make a great nation out of his descendants. Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well. She went and filled the leather bag with water and gave some to the boy. God was with the boy as he grew up; he lived in the wilderness of Paran and became a skillful hunter.” Genesis 21:15-20. Did you know that God also has plans even for non-believers? God will definitely fulfill all of His plans on earth irrespective of religion, nationality, language, locations, and the wickedness of men.

You may have been thrown out of your job, out of your church, out of your house, out of your home, out of your circle of friends, out of your profession, out of your relationship and may have been condemned and denied, but despite what had ever and will ever happen to you, God has plans for everyone and He will guide His children, He will deliver them, He will bless them and He will take them to the place of rest and comfort from the troubles. “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity, not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you. You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart. Yes, I say, you will find me, and I will restore you to your land.” Jeremiah 29:11-14. For prayers, Click here