Preconceived Notions
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Do you have a tendency to plan for God and how He will provide for your journey? I know I do, and I come from a family that is very good at imagining how God could work. Of course, we all desire faith that believes God can do anything, but it is so easy to develop “preconceived notions” that put ourselves in the place of God.
It is a very fine line that can cross over into the sin category. My life, played out after divorce, was not at all how I ever imagined it. Now I look back and regret the energy I wasted planning for God! I thought for sure that He would send a husband sooner, and that I would have more children biologically. See my family page for how my beautiful, tapestry family is beyond what I could have imagined.
Background
In Equipped to Lead (ETL) Part 1, we imagined Joshua standing by the river while it was in flood stage. In Chapter 3 of Joshua, we see God’s provision in the crossing of the Jordan River. The Israelites were commanded to follow the ark of the covenant into the river. The ark of the covenant signifies God Himself going before them into the dangerous waters. Read Joshua 3:11.
God goes ahead of you too, my friend: into the courtroom or mediation session: into those difficult co-parenting relationships: into school or sports events where you may have to sit alone: and even church when you feel singled out as a single parent (no pun intended).
Follow God on this New Path
There are a few concepts I think we should glean from these passages. I love that God recognizes that Joshua is on a new path. Joshua 3:4 (NIV) says, “Then you will know which way to go since you have never been this way before.” Single parenting takes you down roads you have never been down. Do you ever think you would lead a family alone, often doing the job of mom and dad, or even be considering dating again for that matter? On the new path, our imaginations can run wild with how God will deliver us or how He will bless us. However, we must remember …
Do Not Get Ahead of God
The people were also commanded in Joshua 3:4 NIV to keep a distance between them and the ark. That command comes with a promise,
“Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”
Or as worded in the TLB version:
“You have never before been where we are going now, so they will guide you.
We read at the end of chapter 3 that all Israel crossed on dry ground. Now skip ahead with me to Chapter 6.
God’s Ways are Not Our Ways
Do you think the thought ever crossed Joshua’s mind that God would command the Israelites to march around the walls of Jericho? I do not think Joshua ever said himself while lying in his tent at night, “Hey, I bet God is going to command me to march around the city in pursuit of victory?” That would have been absurd!
Read the well known story in chapter 6 of the conquering Jericho. I try to imagine what went through Joshua’s mind when God said to march around the walls! With crossing the Jordan, Joshua had a context or a parallel of the Red Sea experience, but no one in history before Joshua had marched around a city to conquer it. We do not really get a glimpse into what Joshua is thinking, but we see him obey as every day he gets up “early” to lead the army around the wall. Being human, I am sure some days he wondered what in the world he was doing.
This is what you, as the leader of your family, are to do, get up every day, and obey for that day what God commands you.
I end with a quote from an excellent book I use to study the Bible. See the link below.
“No one wants long delays. We love to see things happen. If there must be six days of weary traveling around the walls, the seventh day will come when the walls will fall. God gives us victories through ways that seem utterly foolish to us. (See 1 Corinthians 1:17-29.)”
Reflection
- Are there areas in your life you need to practice waiting?
- Are you laying down your desires in exchange for all God has for you?
Feel free to comment below. What new roads are you on? What verses give you a picture of how God is leading you?
There are days you need to get a healthy meal on the table quickly. This is one of those meals that you can have ready in 30 minutes.