“Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?” (Pr 20:24 AV)
The understanding of this verse is
simply enough. This verse speaks to the
sovereign plan of God for our lives and His manner in working that plan
out. Specifically, this verse speaks to
the future planning of a man and his struggle is trying to figure the choices
of the present which will guarantee a planned future. The assumption is we are a captain of our own
destiny. This is not true. We are only as free as the LORD allows. Our freedom is constrained within the
binderies in which the LORD has placed us.
We do not have complete freedom to do as we dream or think. The other side of this truth is the application
we see above. That is, we cannot
understand completely our own way and need the guidance of the LORD to figure
that out.
One of the greatest inventions is the GPS
navigator. When they first came out, I got
myself one and navigated almost everywhere with it. Over time, phones replaced the Garmins. Google Maps or Waze became more reliable and
up to date than the older GPS navigation stand-alone devices. There is no subscription needed and real-time
conditions can be had. In Google maps,
one can even overlay different maps like topographical maps or satellite images. I have one son who loves to navigate that way. He will go to street view and a satellite
view. Can’t figure that one out. I need the map so I have much more time to
prepare for a change of course. My
father-in-law likes to zoom way out. He
likes to see as much of the route as he can.
But he is a living compass. He never
gets lost and has a sixth sense of direction.
One thing about this technology is it can never give you a complete
picture of the entire trip. Waze gives
details for which I am grateful. A car
on the shoulder, obstructions in my lane, or potholes coming up. What it cannot do is tell me everything that
will happen along my trip all at once. It
lacks information that might change.
Therefore, I may see a general direction in which I will travel, but my
GPS is not all-knowing nor can it determine the conditions in which I will
travel. All it can do is offer
information and suggestions for choices.
Conversely,
our God is a God who knows the future right down to every detail. He also has a plan for our lives right down
to every choice. We cannot understand
the path of our lives much like we cannot anticipate every turn in the
road. Driving the hills of the Appalachians,
Smokeys, or Blue Ridge, no matter how much we know ahead of time, each curve has
with it new information which we didn’t have before. We cannot completely and fully know our path
because we have not gone that way before.
The point of the Proverb is to point out the obvious for the purpose of discipling
the heart to trust God. Faith is that
practice which we are required to exercise for the pleasure of God. It is that discipline which angels cannot
enjoy. Faith means we admit we don’t
know what we don’t know and trust the LORD to guide us through life in the way
He has determined for it to go. The LORD
knows what He is doing. He has known
from eternity. What Solomon is saying to
his son is, “you may think you know where you are going or what you will be
doing, but it is all of the LORD.” So,
we better get used to the ride and stop thinking we determine the outcome far
more than we do. God is always in control
and we need His hand in order to navigate through the hills and valley of life
in the way which pleases Him most.
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