Greetings in Jesus' Name. I'd like to read a little from the book of
II Chronicles tonight:
2Ch 16:1 In the six and thirtieth year
of the reign of Asa Baasha king of
Israel came up against Judah, and built
Ramah, to the intent that he might let
none go out or come in to Asa king
of Judah.
2Ch 16:2 Then Asa brought out silver
and gold out of the treasures of the
house of the LORD and of the king's
house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of
Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
2Ch 16:3 There is a league between
me and thee, as there was between my
father and thy father: behold, I have sent
thee silver and gold; go, break thy league
with Baasha king of Israel, that he may
depart from me.
2Ch 16:4 And Ben-hadad hearkened
unto king Asa, and sent the captains of
his armies against the cities of Israel; and
they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim,
and all the store cities of Naphtali.
2Ch 16:5 And it came to pass, when
Baasha heard it, that he left off building of
Ramah, and let his work cease.
2Ch 16:6 Then Asa the king took all Judah;
and they carried away the stones of Ramah,
and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha
was building; and he built therewith Geba
and Mizpah.
2Ch 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer
came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him,
Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria,
and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore
is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of
thine hand.
2Ch 16:8 Were not the Ethiopians and the
Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots
and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on
the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to
and fro throughout the whole earth, to show
himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart
is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done
foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt
have wars.
You see King Asa was man that had a destiny.
Asa was destined to take down the host of the
pagan king of Syria. Asa was a king that had
already relied on the hand of God and had
already seen God deliver him and his kingdom
from a mighty host first hand.
But Asa... resorted to plan B. And because of
that, he fell short of the calling upon his life.
My friends, never resort to plan B. I think of
Saul how he was standing before the host of the
Philistines, waiting on Samuel to come and offer
the offering. The people with him were trembling
and hiding. Some had even fled the country. But
Samuel was late, and did not come on time to offer
the offering. Plan A didn't seem to be working out
that well, so Saul decided to jump in there and resort
to plan B and offer it himself. Look what Samuel told
him because of it:
1Sa 13:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done?
And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were
scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the
days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered
themselves together at Michmash;
1Sa 13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come
down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made
supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore,
and offered a burnt offering.
1Sa 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done
foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the
LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now
would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon
Israel forever.
1Sa 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue:
the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart,
and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain
over his people, because thou hast not kept that which
the LORD commanded thee.
Because Saul did not wait and follow the plan of God,
and in his haste and fear he jumped in there and did
the wrong thing, his kingdom was taken from him.
There are many other examples of people in the Bible
not wanting to wait upon the Lord and follow instructions.
Often times they thought that they could do good by
jumping out there and doing what was convenient. Many
have even compromised it within themselves as Saul did
thinking that they were "forced" to do this thing that was
not really what they were supposed to do, but was really
just plan B.
But now I want to talk about someone that didn't resort
to plan B. I want to talk about Jesus Christ in the garden
praying that the Lord would let the cup pass from Him.
All power in heaven and earth was at the His command.
How convienient and seemingly good it might have
been to just destroy His evil accusers and live and reign
on earth... but then you and me would never be able to
live above sin. We would never be able to be right and
escape the punishment that the justice of God demanded
of us. And think of all of those in the Old Testament who
died trusting that the Messiah would save His people
from their sins.
No, Jesus did not resort to plan B. He executed the
will of God perfectly. And I believe that each and
every one of us has a plan A for our lives. I believe that
if we just trust God and refuse to resort to plan B, if we
just hold out for Samuel to arrive until he does, rather
than when we become afraid, we will see the hand of God
directing our paths and blessing us beyond our expectation.
You only have on life to live for God on earth, do not settle
for plan B.
God Bless!
