I am convinced from studying Paul’s life and plans found in his letters and the book of Acts that Proverbs 16:1-3 is true even in the lives of the most blessed of Jesus’s believers. “We humans make plans, but the Lord has the final word. We may think we know what is right, but the Lord is the judge of our motives. Share your plans with the Lord, and you will succeed.”
Paul had the Holy Spirit and was greatly used by the Spirit. God used Paul to spread the gospel to the Gentiles 1,200 miles (2,000 Kms), from Jerusalem to Illyricum (16-19). During Paul’s 3 main journeys God planted churches, raised future church leaders, and performed miracles. The Holy Spirit also used Paul to write or influence nearly half the New Testament. If the church were to decorate gospel heroes as the military does, Paul would be pinned with many ribbons.
Yet, even though all these amazing works of the Holy Spirit were performed through Paul, did Paul know about every step of the way he was to go all the time? No. Paul seldom knew though he made plans. Did the Holy Spirit always show him the way to go? Not right away in most if not any cases. Did Paul make plans that never happened as he planned? Often. Did it deter him?
Paul laid out his short and long-term plans in these verses as well as in his letters to Corinth. Acts 20 and 21 records his plans and what actually happened.
As Paul wrote this letter he was bringing a financial offering from the Gentile churches to the needy Jerusalem and Judean congregations. He planned after that to go to the yet unreached Roman territory Spain to preach the gospel, stopping on his way at Rome to get support for that planned missionary journey. Paul was so confident in this plan at this writing that he wrote, “I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. (29)”
However, Paul’s plans never transpired as he believed. Not only that, in Ephesus Paul would soon tell the believers, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”
I am so glad to learn this about Paul. There is nothing wrong nor unusual about uncertainty when it comes to my specific future. Proverbs 16:1-3 is a comfort. “We humans make plans, but the Lord has the final word.” I can and should make plans. I can then take comfort knowing that God has my back. Even if I make poor plans, God has the final determination. I tell him my plans and in peace see what transpires. He loves me and his plans are the best. Sure, Paul didn’t want to be arrested and tried. Yet, he did make it to Rome under Roman protection and provision. He never did make it to Spain.