Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "planned" in the Bible often relates to the divine orchestration and foreknowledge of God. Throughout Scripture, God's plans are depicted as sovereign, purposeful, and ultimately for the good of His creation and the fulfillment of His divine will.
Divine Planning and SovereigntyThe Bible frequently emphasizes that God is a planner who orchestrates events according to His will. In
Isaiah 46:10, God declares, "I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’" This verse highlights God's omniscience and His ability to plan the course of history.
Jeremiah 29:11 is another key verse that reflects God's intentional planning for His people: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope." This assurance was given to the Israelites during their exile, emphasizing that even in difficult times, God's plans are for their ultimate welfare.
Human Planning and ResponsibilityWhile God's plans are paramount, the Bible also acknowledges human planning.
Proverbs 16:9 states, "A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." This suggests that while humans can make plans, it is ultimately God who guides and establishes the outcome.
Proverbs 19:21 further reinforces this idea: "Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail."
The Bible encourages wise and prudent planning, as seen in
Proverbs 21:5: "The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty." This verse underscores the value of careful planning and diligence in achieving success.
Examples of Divine Planning in Scripture1.
Creation: The creation narrative in
Genesis 1 demonstrates God's orderly and purposeful planning. Each day of creation builds upon the previous one, culminating in the creation of humanity, made in God's image.
2.
The Life of Joseph: Joseph's account in
Genesis 37-50 is a profound example of God's providential planning. Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph rises to a position of power in Egypt. In
Genesis 50:20, Joseph acknowledges God's hand in his life: "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people."
3.
The Coming of Christ: The coming of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, prophesied throughout the Old Testament.
Galatians 4:4-5 states, "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons." This highlights the meticulous timing and purpose in God's plan for salvation.
God's Plans for the FutureThe Bible also speaks of God's future plans, particularly concerning the end times and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Revelation 21:1-4 describes the new heaven and new earth, where God will dwell with His people, and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. This vision of the future reflects God's ultimate plan for restoration and eternal fellowship with humanity.
In summary, the concept of "planned" in the Bible underscores the belief in a sovereign God who orchestrates history and individual lives according to His divine purpose. While humans are encouraged to plan wisely, it is ultimately God's plans that prevail, offering hope and assurance to believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Plan.
Greek
1011. bouleuo -- to take counsel, deliberate... Word Origin from boule Definition to take counsel, deliberate NASB Word Usage consider
(1),
planned (1),
planned together (1), purpose (2), resolved (1).
...4388. protithemi -- to set before, ie propose
... Word Origin from pro and tithemi Definition to set before, ie propose NASB Word
Usage displayed publicly (1),planned (1), purposed (1). purpose, set forth....
1014. boulomai -- to will
... verb Definition to will NASB Word Usage am (1), desire (2), desires (1), desiring
(1), intend (1), intended (3), intending (1), like (1),planned (1), unwilling...
Strong's Hebrew
6246. ashith -- to think, plan... 6245b, 6246. ashith or ashith. 6247 . to think, plan. Transliteration: ashith
or ashith Phonetic Spelling: (ash-eeth') Short Definition:
planned.
...3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... 2), intelligence (1), kindly (5), life (1), merry-hearted* (1), middle (2), midst
(1), mind (36), minds (3), myself (6), obstinate* (2),planned* (1), presume...
3289. yaats -- to advise, counsel
... 11), decided (3), devised (2), devises (2), formed (1), gave (1), give (2), give
you advice (1), give you counsel (1), given (4),planned (8), purposed (1...
2803. chashab -- to think, account
... 1), esteem (2), esteemed (2), execute (1), have (1), impute (1), intend (2), make
(2), makers (1), meant (2), mindful (1), plan (2),planned (3), planning (5...
1819. damah -- to be like, resemble
... compared (1), equal (1), gave parables (1), imagine (1), intend (1), intended (2),
like (9), liken (3), make myself like (1), plan (1),planned (1), resemble (1...
3335. yatsar -- to form, fashion
... 1), fashioned (1), fashioning (2), fashions (1), formed (20), forming (2), forms
(2), made (1), Maker (2), maker (4), ordained (1),planned (4), potter (9...
5921. al -- upon, above, over
... 1), opposite (1), opposite* (4), ornamented* (1), over (538), over* (6), overflowing*
(1), overflows* (1), overlooks* (3), part (1),planned* (1), pleased* (1...
935. bo -- to come in, come, go in, go
... 1), invades (1), keep on coming (1), laid (1), Lebo-hamath (6), led (3), lifted
(1), mentioned (1), migration (1), now (1), once (1),planned* (1), present (1...
Library
A Very Old Question.
... obstacles. And so the road is cleared for the free action alreadyplanned.... too.
Then what He knows we need He has alreadyplanned to give....
Joy in Salvation
... many ways. It was his in the planning. None but himself could haveplanned
it. In his infinite wisdom he devised it. The salvation...
College Voluntary Study Courses
... Therefore the text-books areplanned for the use of student classes in the Sunday
School, as well as for the supplementary groups on the campus....
Second Causes.
... God, thy God, was there! If there be perplexing accompaniments, be assured they
were of His permitting; all wasplanned"wisely, kindlyplanned....
The Word of God is Also the Wisdom of God the Going Forth of...
... in His presence." [7822] Now, as soon as it pleased God to put forth into their
respective substances and forms the things which He hadplanned and ordered...
Eighth Tractate. The Soul's Descent into Body.
... soul was given by the goodness of the creator to the end that the total of things
might be possessed of intellect, for thus intellectual it wasplanned to be...
How to Overcome Disappointment
... Of course you have, again and again. Does it hurt very much when things do not go
as you haveplanned and hoped? Does it seem as if you "just can't stand it"?...
Yoked Service.
... Jesus has every man's lifeplanned.... With loving strong thoughtfulness He has thought
into each of our lives, andplanned it out, in whole, and in detail....
In Step with Jesus.
... There is a great Commander-in-chief to this campaign. He has the whole campaign
for a world carefullyplanned out. And each man's part in it isplanned too....
Some of God's Failures.
... Heplanned a great kingdom to overspread the earth in its rule and blessed
influence, but not by the aggression of war and oppression....
Thesaurus
Planned (34 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Planned (34 Occurrences).
... (See NAS). John 11:53 So from
that day forward they
planned and schemed in order to put Him to death.
...Quotations
... CONSTRUCTIVE PRINCIPLES OF NEW TESTAMENT QUOTATION 1. Unity of the Two Dispensations
2. Biblical MovementPlanned from the Beginning 3. The Old Testament...
Ahab (85 Occurrences)
... In all this she aimed at more than a syncretism of the two religions; sheplanned
to destroy the religion of Yahweh root and branch and put that of Baal in its...
Jehovah (20094 Occurrences)
... The world had vastly changed during those long decades when politicians hadplanned,
armies surged back and forth, and tribes and nations had lost or won in...
Sodomite (1 Occurrence)
... CONSTRUCTIVE PRINCIPLES OF NEW TESTAMENT QUOTATION 1. Unity of the Two Dispensations
2. Biblical MovementPlanned from the Beginning 3. The Old Testament...
Servant (738 Occurrences)
... The world had vastly changed during those long decades when politicians hadplanned,
armies surged back and forth, and tribes and nations had lost or won in...
Yahweh (6653 Occurrences)
... The world had vastly changed during those long decades when politicians hadplanned,
armies surged back and forth, and tribes and nations had lost or won in...
Planks (9 Occurrences)
Planning (8 Occurrences)
Honorable (42 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 23:8 Who hasplanned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants
are princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of the earth?...
Resources
How should a Christian view Planned Parenthood? | GotQuestions.orgDoes the Bible support eugenics? | GotQuestions.orgGod vs. Satan - if God is all-powerful, why does He not just kill Satan? | GotQuestions.orgPlanned: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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