Leaving The Outcome To God

Leaving The Outcome To God

Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants.

Genesis 33:1

This story is a good example of doing what you can and leaving the outcome to God. Jacob doesn’t hesitate to do what he is able to do in this situation. He divides the people who are with him into two groups, sends presents to his brother, and travels ahead to take care of every possible thing. Someone in despair would have said, “I’m not going to do anything. If I’m meant to be killed, I can’t prevent it anyway.”

People will draw the same conclusion regarding their salvation and say, “If I’m meant to be saved, I won’t be lost no matter what I do.” Beware of those wicked words! Certainly, it’s true that what is meant to happen will happen. But you have to remember that you don’t know what will happen. You don’t even know if you will be dead or alive tomorrow. God doesn’t want you to know. That’s why it’s foolish to search for something that God in his wisdom has intentionally hidden from you.

Similarly, it’s foolish to blame everything on what God has predestined. God’s plan includes his secret wisdom. We can’t understand it. God doesn’t want you to know the future. So stick with your calling, remain within the limits of God’s Word, and use whatever resources and wisdom God has given you. For instance, I can’t foresee what my preaching will produce—who will be converted and who won’t. What if I were to say, “Those who are meant to be converted will be converted even without my efforts, and what’s the use of trying to convert those who aren’t meant to be saved?” Saying that would be foolish and irreverent. Who are we to ask such questions? Take care of your responsibilities and leave the outcome to God.