God Plans Ahead for Eden. Does God Plan Ahead for ME?
Genesis 2:4
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created,
in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.
Genesis 2:4 introduces the second part of God’s creation story. Moses starts his account with an overview of creation (Genesis 1:1-2:3). Now, as he continues, he shifts his focus to the people who will live in this newly created place.
Notice How God Plans Ahead
In the first part of the creation story (Genesis 1:1-2:3), God brings each sphere into order before He fills it. He creates light and separates it from the darkness before He creates the heavenly bodies that will populate day and the night. He separates the sky and the ocean from the land before placing plants and birds and fish and animals where they will thrive. Mankind only appears after a welcoming environment is ready. God plans ahead.
The second part of the creation story (Genesis 2:3-25) gets more personal. Here we see the details of how lavishly God gifts this first couple. He not only sees their needs but plans ahead to make certain that no need is unmet. Because God cares about the well-being of Adam and Eve, He prepares surroundings that suit them in every way. God plans ahead.
How about Now?
Yes, how about now? Today’s world seems considerably less suited to our needs. God obviously cares about Adam and Eve’s circumstances and plans ahead for their welfare. How about my circumstances? Does He care about what I experience? Does God plan ahead for my welfare? He says He does.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Does God have the power to pull this off? Apparently so. He promised victory over evil in Genesis 3:14-15. He promises victory over today’s evil as well.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
All things means all things. Do my circumstances work together for good? Yes, they do. Even the painful, confusing ones? Yes, even those.
Lord, help me to believe what I cannot see or understand. I need such faith. So do we all.
A Few Questions
Ponder with me how God plans ahead throughout history.
Consider how His planning ahead impacts the way we each live our lives.
Consider the circumstances of various biblical characters:
- Do you believe that God was involved in the details of the environment in which He placed Noah?
- How about the environment in which God placed Job?
- How about the environment surrounding Jesus?
- Do you see any of these circumstances working together for good? How might Romans 8:28 apply?
Consider your own circumstances:
- Do you believe that God is involved in the details of the environment in which He has placed you?
- In what ways do your circumstances shape your perception of God’s character?
- Do you think Romans 8:28 applies to you?
God Plans Ahead for Eden. Does God Plan Ahead for ME?
© Lynne Fox, 2017
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