Of Second Best Plans

As I have prepared to jump back into Hebrews, I have been cross-referencing a lot of information with Abraham’s life. This week’s study was delayed due to some health complications, but I wanted to share this thought with you now.

Abraham (Abram at the time) received a calling from God to leave his homeland (Gen. 12:1). He obeyed the call and trusted in God’s promises. One of those covenant promises was that God would give Abraham a son (Gen. 12:2). However, as the years went by, this promise remained unfulfilled. God granted the promise of prosperity, likely far more than Abraham had ever anticipated. However, there was no one to inherit his legacy – no one that could become a nation (Gen. 15:2-6). Abraham believed God. However, (and it is the “howevers” that get us in trouble), it had been ten years since God’s original promise. Abram and Sarai decided to “help” God. Let me promise you (from God’s Word and personal testimony), when we try to “help” God and run ahead of his plan – it never turns out well. Through their actions, they launched the most bitter and long-lasting conflict in human history…and they still didn’t create the son of promise.

Another 13 years passed, and God returned to renew his promise to Abram (soon to be Abraham). God still insists that Sarai (now Sarah) will bear a son. Abraham fell on his face and laughed (Gen. 17:17). That is a strange paradox – a posture of surrender, but a full understanding of the absurdity (from a human perspective) of that promise. Living in the stark reality of human limitations, Abraham makes a request that many of us have probably made in one form or another over the years, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you” (Gen. 17:18). How many times have we held up our best efforts, our self-made plans, our striving and straining to God and said, “bless this?” We acknowledge that it isn’t what God originally planned. What we have produced might not be quite right, but please use this instead of requiring me to be obedient. Don’t make me go back to square one. Don’t make me surrender to your timeline. Look at how I helped you achieve your plans! Abraham and Sarah wanted to fulfil God’s promises on their own terms. This was a request that Abraham made after many years of waiting on the son of promise. He and Sarah had taken God’s plan into their own hands and chosen to have a son of their own scheming.

I think we can all think of the “Ishmael’s” in our lives. They aren’t necessarily bad (I have always felt sorry for Ishmael himself since he had nothing to do with his conception/the decisions of his parents). However, the fruit born from our own plans and efforts are never what God has called for. Cain brought fruit, instead of a lamb. Saul brought sacrifice, instead of obedience. Israel brought delayed obedience, instead of trusting hearts. We want to substitute our efforts for God’s plans and then get upset when he won’t accept them or use them the way we want.

God has been executing his eternal plan since the beginning of time. However, he won’t use our 2nd best efforts. He needs no backups so why would we think that he needs our help? If “x” hasn’t happened, it isn’t because God is negligent or unable. Instead, it’s not his timeline or not part of his perfect eternal plan. This truth is hard to trust for those of us who are impatient and type A. We like it our way and in our time. Still, the Spirit has promised to produce his fruit in our lives. If we let him, he will speak to us and grow us in the barren years. It may not be the way we want, but it will be within his plan. Our decisions may not impact international sociopolitical relations like Abraham’s did. However, we can still avoid so much heartache if we trust that God doesn’t need our Ishmael’s. He will fulfil his promises for Isaac – but it will be on his terms and in his own timing.