Day 24

Why is it that people often think that they know better than God or that they can tell God what to do? Why do we argue with God and try and go our own way?

Jacob is placing a blessing on Joseph’s boys but Joseph tries to tell him that he is doing it all wrong. Jacob is hugely Godly (it’s in his blood) and here God is acting through him in this blessing but Joseph knows better. And then in the Gospel reading. “God so loved the world that he sent his only son that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:16) and Peter says “No, No God. You can’t do that. Jesus can’t die on a cross”. If there is anything that God must do it is act in love towards his creation and save them from themselves. But not in Peter’s mind, for Peter knows best.

The Proverbs reading speaks directly to this problem. All the way through telling us to trust in commands and right teaching. To make sure that love is at the heart of all we do and that we always always trust in the Lord, and then v7 “Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord”.

And then Jesus told his disciples that he must suffer and be killed and then on the third day rise up. And his disciples said, “Yes it must be so, but let us walk with you and follow you, doing as you command”.

Is God saying something to you that you don’t want to here. Are you identifying with something in all the passages that we are reading and God speaking through a recurring theme? Are you arguing back thinking that you know best? Whatever God is telling you it is right for you. He only has plans to prosper you and not to harm you” (Jeremiah 29:11). Now is the time to not be wise in our own eyes, to “trust not in our own understanding” as proverbs v5 puts it, but to trust in the Lord with your whole heart.