GOD’S PLAN, NOT OURS

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…

1 Samuel 4:1–11. Everybody was wrong about the ark of the covenant (an item in the tabernacle that represented the throne of God). After losing a battle to the Philistines, Israel sent messengers to Shiloh to ask that the ark be hauled to Ebenezer, the site of their army camp.

When the ark arrived, the Israelites celebrated so loudly the enemy heard them all the way over in Aphek. The ark’s arrival caused the Philistines to fear and the Israelites to have courage. They were both wrong. The Israelites took the ark into battle and were again beaten so hard by the Philistines, who captured the ark. Another mistake 😆. The Philistines got sick and their false gods were destroyed. We can understand the Philistines’ error though; they were idol-worshipers. But the Israelites should have known better. They failed to consult God about using the ark. While they knew that the ark was earlier carried in battle (Josh. 6), they didn’t consider that God’s plan, (not the ark’s involvement), allowed Israel to defeat Jericho.

No matter our resources, we will fail unless we use them according to God’s plan. You can have all it takes to execute a plan, but is it God’s plan or your plan??