We can PLAN, but God is Fully In Charge - Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:1 (ESV Strong's)

The PLANS of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:3 (ESV Strong's)

Commit your work to the Lord,

and your PLANS will be established.

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV Strong's)

The heart of man PLANS his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:30 (ESV Strong's)

Whoever winks his eyes PLANS dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

We can PLAN, but God is Fully In Charge

In the above proverbs there are three different Hebrew words for “plan.”  Although we translate them all the same, the difference in the Hebrew words is worth noting.  According to Vine, here is what we learn: 

16:1 - Hebrew “ma‘ărâḵ” - an arrangement, i.e. (figuratively) mental disposition: — preparation.

16:3 - Hebrew maḥăšâḇâ; a contrivance, i.e. (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice): — cunning (work), curious work, device(-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.

16:9 & 16:30 - Hebrew - ḥâšaḇ; a primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (gen.) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute: — (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think.

In our way of thinking it might look like this:

16:1 - it is speaking of the “beliefs” of our mindset

16:3 - it is speaking of the “plans” of our mindset - or produced by our mindset

16:9, 30 - it is speaking of the “logic” of our mindset

In each case, what we are taught is that God is perfecting still in control, no matter what we might produce in our minds.   We can, if we want, contrive and contour the path we are on, but God will still make sure we travel the way He wants, when He wants and the way He wants.   That is both assuring and frightful.   To those who do not want to recognize the sovereign power and privilege of God, it can, probably, insulting.   Never-the-less, it is God and He is in charge.   He is in control.  Some fight that truth.  They don’t like it.  As if they, in their own faults and struggles, can actually plot a better path.  But, to those who trust completing in God’s perfect plan and ultimate control it can be the very assurance they are desiring.