The Plan

The Plan

“Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from him” (2 Samuel 14:14b – New American Standard Bible).

Have you ever heard of a game called “Kick the Can”? It is a variation of hide and seek that we used to play a lot when I was a kid. Almost every time I visited my cousin, who lived in a large neighborhood with many houses, we played kick the can. I remember this kid who never won if would not let him win. He would stay “it” forever if we did not do something to prevent that. Invariably, we would play several rounds and someone would say that we need to let “Marvin” win. We would then formulate a plan that would allow “Marvin” to win. It was just the right thing to do.

In the Scripture above, King David’s friend, Joab, saw how troubled David was that his son, Absalom, and he were estranged. Joab sent a woman from Tekoa to tell David a made up story of two sons who had fought resulting in one son killing his brother. She tells the king that her family wants to put the other son to death. David decides to judge in the remaining son’s favor. He promises the woman that anyone who lays a hand on her son will be dealt with. Of course, Joab fabricates this story and has the woman tell it to the king so that David may see that is the very situation that David’s own family is in. David’s son, Absalom, had killed David’s other son, Amnon. She goes so far as to say, "Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back his banished one?” (2 Samuel 14:13 – NASB). To which, David replies, "Behold now, I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom" (2 Samuel 14:21 – NASB).

God will always make a way for us to succeed. He did it through the cross. God wants us to have a way to Him by salvation through Jesus. For His children who are currently away from Him, the answer is still Jesus. This is God’s plan to bring us back from banishment. He designed the plan in the Garden. He unveiled the plan in Christ’s life. He performed the plan at Calvary. He culminated the plan at the empty tomb. He informs us of the plan through the work of the Holy Spirit. He designed the plan from the beginning, performed it Himself, and calls us to reap its’ benefits. WHAT A GOD! He wants us to win! What a PRIZE! It’s not a game, but seeing no way for us to win, HE MADE THE WAY!

It is not His desire that we be banished. It is a feeble example, but we did not want “Marvin” to fail. Seeing no way for “Marvin” to do it on his own, we made a way for “Marvin” to win. God, seeing no way for us to make it on our own, made a way. It is Jesus.

Have you accepted His plan? Christian friend, are you away from God? He would not have you be. He’s got a plan. He’s made a way. It is Jesus.