Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
This passage of scripture teaches us that God does not think as we do, nor is His manner of doing things similar to ours, and because of this it becomes necessary for us to study His character, and try as best as we can to understand the ways of God. One of the areas in which there is a marked difference in our ways and God's ways, is the way we plan for the future. As a general rule of thumb, we prefer to have a long detailed plan of action, stretching for many years into the future so that we can know with certainty, exactly what will transpire in our lives so that we can take any necessary steps to forestall any perceived evil which may befall us. This manner of thinking then causes us undue worry about the future, and many people go so far as to consult with psychics and fortune tellers, in order to find out what tomorrow holds.
But this method of doing things is not God's manner of operation when dealing with us, for He rarely, if ever, gives us minute details of our life experiences stretching way into the future. The reason for this is that this method of revealing all of our future upfront, does not then require us to exercise faith in God, and sometimes it could cause us unnecessary worry and care, which could then trigger a series of decisions that can derail God's perfect plan for our lives. For instance when king Hezekiah was about to die, God gave him notice by telling him to put his house in order, in preparation for his imminent demise. But when this was revealed to the king, he wept sore, and began to enumerate his good deeds as reasons why he should be allowed to continue his sojourn on this earth. Let's read:
2nd Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, 3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
And because of Hezekiah's remonstrance against God's wise planning, fifteen years were added to his life, but the morbid results show beyond the shadow of a doubt that God's ways are always in the best interest of His people. During those fifteen additional years, Hezekiah committed a dreadful sin of self-exaltation, in showing the ambassadors of Babylon all of the wealth with which God had blessed the nation, and this unwise action of taking the glory to himself was the undoing of his people, for the Babylonians soon began to plot the invasion of the entire country. In addition to this, a son was born to the king, Manasseh by name, who became the most wicked and brutal king in the history of the Jews, a situation which could have been averted if Hezekiah had agreed to a timely death, according to God's perfect will. Let's read:
2nd Kings 21:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem" .... 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. 16 Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.
In our own experiences we are often tempted to believe that God does not know what He is doing, and for this reason some of us take it upon ourselves to plan for God, just as Hezekiah did. But the word of God teaches us to wait upon The Lord, trusting both His wisdom and goodness, for He is able to plan perfectly for us because of His singular ability to see the end from the beginning. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to place our entire trust in God, for He knows what is best for us, and orchestrates every circumstance, and every event, so that all things will work together for the good of those who love Him. Let's read:
Psalms 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!