WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DECEMBER 13, 2024
TOPIC: NO PLAN CAN SUCCEED AGAINST THE LORD (1)
BY T. O. BANSO
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30 New International Version).
Sometimes some people get deceived by their power, wealth, or whatever they have and act as if they are omnipotent. They assume they have the power of life and death. Though they may be able to kill, they can’t bring anyone back to life! Thus, they have limited power.
Jesus said such people should not be feared. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 New King James Version). Luke 12:5 records a similar statement.
People who pretend to be the Alpha and Omega and make plans or plots contrary to that of God, including wicked schemes against God’s people, should know that they can only progress as far as God allows them. Unfortunately, this attitude of God not stopping them from making some progress in their plans gives them the erroneous impression that they can do and undo.
The truth, however, is that when God is ready, He will foil their plans and make their wisdom come to naught. Don’t be one of such people intoxicated by their wealth, power, positions, etc., and begin to boast against the Lord and work contrary to His Word. They must repent because God will not keep quiet forever. At the right time, He will act, and He does not display His power in vain. God has no rival.
The LORD says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 New King James Version). This is a very important counsel. Let him who has ears hear.
Here is a powerful truth: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30 New International Version). Think about this. Another translation renders the scripture thus: “No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord” (New Living Translation). The Berean Study Bible puts it this way: “There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.”
You may see people behaving and talking as if they are God. It’s just a matter of time. They will soon go the way of their predecessors. The Bible has records of such people; history is full of their stories – tyrants, dictators, oppressors, despots – who thought their powers would last forever. God always laughs at such people. You can laugh too, for you will see their downfall.
The psalmist says, “Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever” (Psalm 92:7 New Living Translation). He says in verse 11, “My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents” (New Living Translation).
I imagine the Lord laughing when Herod was planning to kill Jesus Christ as a baby. In his wisdom, Herod perfected the plan. Based on the information he had garnered, he believed that by killing all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its districts, from two years old and under, there was no way he would miss killing Jesus. But the Lord knew about the plan even before he made it. He is the Omniscient.
Through an angel in a dream, the Lord told Joseph, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy” (Matthew 2:13 New King James Version). By the time Herod ordered the killing of the Children (verse 16), Joseph had already taken Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Herod was too late. No wisdom, insight, or plan can succeed against the Lord.
God has no rival. He laughs at those plotting against Him or working against His plans. The psalmist asks, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?” (Psalm 2:1 New King James Version). He was concerned that the kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers plotted against the LORD and His anointed one. They said they would break their chains and free themselves from “this slavery.”
Was God moved by their plans and threats? Was He worried at all? No. Their threats meant nothing to Him. The psalmist says, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision” (verse 4 New King James Version). God laughs at those who exhibit their supposed wisdom, making plans and devices against Him. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile’” (1 Corinthians 3:19-20 New King James Version).
Whenever God announces Himself or has to declare to someone He is God, the person should know that He wants to say something serious or about to do something great, either positive or negative! He doesn’t announce Himself for fun. In Isaiah 44:24-25, He says, “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, and drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolishness” (New King James Version).
No wisdom, insight, or plan can succeed against the Lord. Those involved in such are wasting their time. It’s a doomed enterprise! Job 5:12 says God frustrates the devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
There are consequences for those contending against Him mightier or greater than they are (Ecclesiastes 6:10). “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?” (Isaiah 45:9 New International Version).
In Genesis 11:4, the descendants of Noah decided to build a city and a tower whose top was in the heavens and make a name for themselves so that they would not be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. This was contrary to God’s plan that human beings would multiply and spread over the earth (Genesis 1:28; 9:1).
In their wisdom, they progressed with the project. But they only advanced as far as God permitted them. When He was prepared to stop the project permanently, He did so easily. No stress. The LORD confused their language and scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. Thus, they ceased building the city. No wisdom, insight, or plan can succeed against the Lord.
Pharaoh boasted against the LORD. In Exodus 5:1, Moses and Aaron went to tell Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness’” (New King James Version). You would think he would fear the LORD and allow them to go without much delay. No. “And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go’” (verse 2 New King James Version). Yes, he said that.
It didn’t surprise the LORD he acted that way. He had told Moses when he sent him to deliver the people that Pharaoh would be stubborn. The LORD said He would harden his heart so that he would not let the people go (Exodus 4:21). Therefore, despite all the wonders that the LORD performed through Moses and Aaron, Pharaoh remained adamant. He didn’t release the Israelites.
At a point, Moses became impatient. He returned to the LORD and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all” (Exodus 5:22-23 New King James Version).
In the end, God broke Pharaoh’s back. He could have done it earlier than that but He didn’t. He wanted to show Him that He is God. God’s patience in dealing with tyrants, despots, oppressors, and loud-mouthed and boastful people must never be mistaken for weaknesses or impotence. Nobody’s case is a hard nut for God to crack. His power is unlimited; His weapons are unassailable.
Exodus 12:29-30 says, “And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead” (New King James Version). Pharaoh was not a spirit; he was flesh and blood.
The Israelites left Egypt with honour; they didn’t flee. They plundered the Egyptians as they gave them whatever they asked for before they left. When Pharaoh later sent his army to pursue the Israelites and bring them back, God demonstrated His power further so that Pharaoh’s defeat could be total. He made Pharaoh’s chariots and horsemen perish in the sea while the children of Israel walked on dry land amid the sea.
No wisdom, insight, or plan can succeed against the Lord. Have faith in God. God will triumph over His and your enemies. I will conclude this topic in tomorrow’s devotional. No plan can succeed against the Lord.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I thank You because no wisdom, insight, or plan can succeed against You. Cause every device or scheme of the enemy against me to fail. Let every attempt of the enemy to overthrow your plan for my life crumble in Jesus’ name. Turn to foolishness the wisdom of the enemy of Your church. Let their efforts be wasted.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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