Part of a Plan

I have been reading through the book of Joshua lately mostly like I would read a book. Most of the time I read a few verses several times and meditate on them but I wanted to get a big picture view for a change. I am starting chapter ten and in the first nine chapters Israel has come from the desert into the promised land by way of the second parting of the waters, entering the promised land the way the entered the desert, and have been on a rampage of cleaning house. Of course only through the power of God.

I see so many lessons even by getting the big picture. Lessons such as, through God anything is possible. That even great leaders can be deceived sometimes and when God has a plan, if we will let him and are obedient, he will use us to accomplish it and reap the rewards.

Among many other lessons, this thought of a plan above all has stood out to me. I think of different people in the account of Israel taking the land. There is the God fearing prostitute in Jericho that hears of the Lord being on the side of Israel and protects the spies who in return protect her. God spares a prostitute because of her faith.

Then I see all the kings that are killed by sword, by hanging and many other ways of dead. And what about all the people that are destroyed in the many cities that are conquered. That of course includes children. So many died to fulfill a plan. Even soldiers of Israel died in battles even though they won. All of those souls into eternity to bring about God's plan. Each person was born as a part of a plan God had. If the people of Ai had not been born and established a city there would have not been a city to destroy. All of these people filled a role. Lives characterized by living then dying by the sword never to be mentioned by name or remembered.

The reality is we are a part of a plan. Most of us will never be mentioned in a newspaper except in death and we will live and die fulfilling a small part of a bigger picture. That is very sobering to me. The reality is that God has a plan for each of us. For some of us his plan is for us to live a quiet obedient life, while others do great things for God and yet others he takes away in car crashes and some from cancer leaving young children behind.

When one looks at that reality in the light of being such a small part of a huge plan it has to bring us to a place of awe and worship. I have to praise God that he found me and loved me and called me to himself. I'm on that narrow way I wrote about.

No matter what part I play or how big of an impact I make in Gods plan, it is after all HIS plan. I am just honored to be a part of it in some way and especially to be on His side of the plan.